Thank goodness that my incessant film-viewing does bring the occasional very pleasant surprise. I didn't know much about this one and despite the fact that Emma Thompson is usually terrific, the rest of the cast made me have some doubts. Will Ferrell has been little less than annoying in his recent "comic" performances and Dustin Hoffman and Queen Latifah so often go over the top; even kooky Maggie Gyllenhaal can rapidly reach satiation point in her choice of the roles. So when I tell you that all of the above were wonderful, I'm really saying something.
For once Ferrell is able to demonstrate his acting skills as the poor dweeb who suddenly starts hearing an author's voice in his head and discovers that he is but a character in her next novel and that his death is imminent. The author in question is Thompson who has a severe case of writer's block and Latifah is her assistant sent by her publisher to chivy her along. Hoffman (in a thankfully restrained performance) plays a literary expert to whom Ferrell turns for help and Gyllenhaal is a creative baker whom Ferrell (as an IRS inspector) has to audit and to whom he becomes strangely attracted. At the same time that Ferrell starts to investigate the intrusive voice, he also begins to break out of the meaningless rut that his life has been. This first-time screenplay by Zach Helm (he has gone on to write and direct the new release "Mr. Magorium...") was very reminiscent of the clever scripts by Charlie Kaufman and made watching this movie both a literate and amusing experience. Surprises like this are always very welcome. More please!
Ping please...
1 comment:
This is a first rate film which has a literate script, an interesting premise and a
set of solid performances. Emma Thompson was less mannered than usual and
Will Ferrell showed that he can carry a serious role, something he just about did
in 'Melinda and Melinda'. I doubt it was that well received but it should have been.
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