Tuesdays are for DVDs. That is just part of life. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays we are out painting the town red and visiting our local cineplex to see what great new cinematic adventures have landed in theaters, but weekdays don't normally lend themselves very well to going out. That whole "job" thing always gets in the way, does it not? So why not stop out to your local retailer and pick up a newly released DVD? Maybe you can see something you missed in theaters, or maybe you can rediscover a film you had previously enjoyed. Either way, you should always check here every Tuesday as I lay down my "DVD Pick of the Week."
This week's pick is one of the more underrated films from both 2006 and Will Ferrell. Stranger than Fiction tells the story of Harold Crick (Ferrell), an IRS auditor whose stale life is consumed with his love for numbers — so much so that he counts his steps to work. The epitome of a loser, Crick finds himself caught in a daily routine that he neither dislikes nor makes any attempts to change. That is, until he begins hearing the voice of author Kay Eiffel (Emma Thompson), who is narrating his entire life. Crick's routine is broken all apart as he realizes that he is a character in her novel, a character that she wants dead, so he must figure out a way to stop her from killing him off so that he may continue to live — and quite possibly live his life to the fullest.
The film has that usual Will Ferrell charm, but with none of the mindless gags or random acts of college humor. This is Will Ferrell's movie career all grown up. Aside from a surprising solid performance from Ferrell, the film sports a very apt supporting cast. Emma Thompson is as witty as ever, Dustin Hoffman pops up to lend his own brand of subtle comedy and Maggie Gyllenhaal plays Harold's unexpected love interest, a foul-mouthed anti-establishment baker named Ana. It all adds up to a film that is genuinely funny (not dumb-funny like most of Farrell's other work), somewhat introspective, and ultimately full of heart. Not your quintessential Oscar winner (or even nominee), but a really enjoyable flick that deserves a shot — especially on DVD. I would say give this one a chance, and you will be pleasantly surprised.
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