Stranger Than Fiction

Marc Forster's "Stranger Than Fiction" is light, fluffy fun that thinks it's more clever than it really is. Written by first-timer Zach Helm, the movie is a bag of hits and misses:

Hits:

- Will Ferrell works perfectly in the role. He is likable, doesn't overact, and is able to garner real sympathy from the audience.
- The idea is a clever one, and the first 30 minutes of the movie are especially enjoyable because they let us essentially enjoy what it would be like to discover you had your own personal narrator.
- The film is visually clever, with special effects reminiscent of the IKEA scene in "Fight Club" that efficiently communicate Ferrell's OCD state-of-mind.

Misses:

- Maggie Gyllenhaal's character is wrong for Will's character, and I'm not talking about the 10 year age difference. Her character comes off as an impatient bitch - a woman that Will shouldn't be wasting his time with. And this romantic subplot doesn't really add anything to the film's story arc anyway, so why is it here?
- If you think about the story's concept for one minute, you quickly realize there are gaping plot holes, especially in regards to Emma Thompson's author character. I don't want to enter spoiler territory, but Helm basically decides to ignore all of the inconsistencies he sets up in his universe. A better writer would have solved them.
- An overly sappy ending

Rating: *** (out of ****)
Opens Nov. 10