The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Despite any setbacks, Stiller’s adaptation is an inspiring and beautifully shot character adventure - one that even manages to get a worthwhile message across without becoming too preachy.
Ben Stiller play the nominal quality inThe Secret Life of Walter Mitty , aLife Magazineemployee who spends much of his day " zoned out , " oblivious to the world around him while fantasise about escapade and try that he ’s too afraid to track after . paralyze by menage responsibilities and the day-by-day work dweeb , Walter finds solace in his day dream , where he rescue blackguard from burn buildings , pummel his overbearing chief in a cartoonish street fight , and woos the char of his dreams , accounting stave member Cheryl Melhoff ( Kristen Wiig ) .
However , when it is announced thatLife Magazinewill terminate issue of physical issues , in a move to the online grocery , famedLifephotojournalist Sean O’Connell ( Sean Penn ) sends in a final cover image that he claims will capture the " quintessence " of the iconic magazine . Unfortunately , Walter can not find " Negative 25 , " and with his job and the esteem of Cheryl on the channel , he is forced out into the world , away from his fantasy , to find O’Connell , cover down the missing picture , and hold out - up to theLife Magazinemotto : " To see things grand of miles away , things hidden behind walls and within rooms , things serious to amount to , to suck up closer , to see and be amazed . "
After James Thurber published his 1939 shortsighted chronicle , " The Secret Life of Walter Mitty , " the property has seen multiple adaptations - most notably a 1947 film ( starring Danny Kaye ) as well as a broadway show . Screenwriter Steve Conrad ( The Pursuit of Happyness ) update the stage setting and storyline for the 2013 version , broadly speaking incorporate Thurber ’s burden concept of a day woolgather agonist along with element of the 1947 cinema , to narrate an all - young Walter Mitty story with a variety of modern references and story beats .
Stiller not only star but also directs the film - which , couple with some of the clownlike fancy moment , might lead moviegoers to assume thatThe Secret Life of Walter Mittyis another one of the actor ’s over - the - top comedy offer ( i.e. ZoolanderorTropic Thunder ) . Yet , The Secret Life of Walter Mittyis a astonishingly impactful and uplifting cinema experience on par with some of the class ’s best indie offerings - one that is raise further by the sharp heart of Academy Award - nominated cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh ( The Piano ) .
The original narration touched on like motifs of escapism and living , but with theLife Magazinebackdrop ( and subsequent hunt for a populace - hop photojournalist ) , Conrad and Stiller inject the setup with lend layers that provide a smart intellect for Mitty to get out of his head and in reality step into the domain . A few threads parrot trope in prior journey of self - empowerment plots but , even when the story borders on intimate territory , the film maker still present plentifulness of moving parallels to theLife Magazinemantra itself , " To see Life ; see the humans . "
Previously , Stiller has proven himself as a solid drama performing artist in undertaking that went , for the most part , under the casual motion-picture fan radar ( most recently inGreenberg ) . As a event , some witness will be surprised to find that play a convincing and relatable everyman , rather than an over - the - top cartoon character , is fully within the actor ’s repertoire . Stiller ’s take on Walter Mitty is n’t going to win him an Academy Award nomination but there ’s a subtlety and serious-mindedness in his execution that is right at home with the moving-picture show ’s enjoyable counterbalance of humour , philosophizing , and drama . It ’s a convincing public presentation , one that Stiller should be proud to include in his filmography - and one that should keep audiences rooting for Walter throughout his transformative journeying .
Wiig is also a success as Cheryl , step outside of her usual resume - comedy wheelhouse to toy a pragmatic single - mother - and the focal point of Walter ’s heart . Wiig and Stiller might not have the kind of pulse - pounding chemistry that viewer expect in New film romance , but her turn as Cheryl provides a sweet and fitting supporter in the primary patch - which is , first and first off , about storm Walter out of fancy life and into a real adventure .
Adam Scott ( along with his beard ) is another highlighting , portrayingLife Magazineacquisition managing director , Ted Hendricks . Hendricks is pulled into several of Walter ’s fantasy scenes , including that aforementioned street brawl , signify that Scott is a picture - stealer in both the real and fantasy populace . Finally , rounding out the supporting cast is Sean Penn , Kathryn Hahn , and Shirley MacLaine who all savour fundamental bit in the spotlight - and are welcome addition in the phylogenesis of Walter Mitty .
peculiarly vital moviegoers will likely be capable to pick out minor shortcomings inThe Secret Life of Walter Mitty , as the motion-picture show can ( at times ) be held back by routine story beatnik and solid ( but not phenomenal ) performances . Yet , despite any setbacks , Stiller ’s version is an inspiring and attractively shot character dangerous undertaking - one that even make do to get a worthwhile message across without becoming too preachy . In a story about going into the strange , Stiller follow at delivering a movie that , as Walter ’s online date guru ( played by Patton Oswalt ) suggests , can be both " notable and mentionable . "
Ben Stiller as Walter in ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’
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Kristen Wiig as Cheryl Melhoff in ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’
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Based on the short story by James Thurber , The Secret Life of Walter Mitty stars Ben Stiller as the nominal role , a balmy - mannered employee as Life Magazine who daydreams about a more exciting life for himself . When he is post on a whirlwind mission by his knob to think a negative of the thoroughgoing masking photo for the cartridge clip , Walter finds himself suddenly live the exciting life he has only dream about . Kristen Wiig , Shirley MacLaine , Kathryn Hahn , and Sean Penn also star .
Sean Penn as Sean O’Connell in ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’
Adam Scott as Ted Hendricks in ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’
