What an outstanding movie! Odd, yes, but I like them that way (as you have surely figured out by now). Oftentimes "odd" isn't also able to be endearing, however this film was very much so! Who would ever have thought it believable - but it is! Anyway, to the premise...
A man with a very static (many would say boring) life starts to hear a narrator of his life story in the moment as he is living it. Disturbing indeed, but would it work as a premise for a story? Yes! I was intrigued by the previews but didn't know if it would actually fly as a full length film. I was pleased to find that the parts in the previews did not ruin anything, unlike so many teasers and trailers for films.
Emma Thompson was amazing in her role as the writer of the story and Will Ferrell wasn't annoying! Yeah, that's what I said - he wasn't annoying!! Not a big Ricky Bobby or Ron Burgundy fan, I do love him in Old School and a few other flicks. However, this was certainly his most subdued of characters. He was outstanding. Maggie Gyllenhaal was amazing as always. I just love her. She is a baker being audited by the IRS and is her usual fiery little self. Queen Latifah was understated, which made it a good role without being outlandish. Dustin Hoffman made me want to go over to his office and ask him about novels (he was a literature professor). So, everyone was great. That's all I'm saying. Yeah. Watch it.
