Hey everyone! I just rented the movie Stranger Than Fiction last night and I am so excited to tell you about it. I promise I won’t spoil anything about the plot and I won’t reveal anything that wasn’t in a preview.
Stranger Than Fiction is not a new movie and you may have already seen it but if you haven’t I really recommend it. Will Ferrell plays Harold Crick, a man who hears an author’s voice in his head narrating his life. Emma Thompson plays a novelist who is trying to decide how to kill the main character of her novel (hmm … who could that be?). Dustin Hoffman is a literature professor helping Harold determine whether he is in a comedy or a tragedy. Add Maggie Gyllenhaal as a baker with an attitude to wake Harold up from his boring life and you have got yourselves a romantic comedy with a quirky twist.
I have been thinking about how my life would be different if I heard a voice describing my daily routine. Would I be more bold? Would I take more chances? How would my decision to face my fears change my tomorrow?
I love that Gyllenhaal’s character has tattoos, wants to fight the government and really speaks her mind. I’m not saying that you should run out and get a tattoo but I like that she’s got guts and fights for what she believes in. She’s not a typical looking female lead for a mainstream Hollywood romantic movie and I like that about this film. Will Ferrell isn’t a typical Hollywood male romantic lead, he usually plays kooky characters and in this film he is understated and shy. A man afraid to pursue his dreams; Harold’s life is changed dramatically not when he begins hearing the narrator’s voice but when he decides to take action. Harold changes his habits, tries new things and say things that terrify him. His life expands in wonderful ways even when sometimes individual events don’t turn out as he might have hoped.
This film is about self-esteem and finding a place where you feel good about being you; even when you don’t feel good about yourself. I found Harold to be a very inspiring character and I know that I will see this movie again.
Sounds like I need to add this one to my Netflix queue