No spoilers.
It isn't often a movie comes along and totally blows me away. This one did. I know the reviews have been very mixed. If I had to guess at a reason, I'd say it's because a great many people aren't sure what to make of it. It's certainly tough to describe.
I'm very familiar with the cultural significance of someone being labeled a Walter Mitty, it's been part of our world since 1939. It was coined from a short story that ran in The New Yorker. For the unwashed, it's a label given to people who have big imaginations, dreams, aspirations, etc, yet never act on them. Usually it's out of fear or insecurity.
No surprise then that it resonated with me. I've certainly been a Walter Mitty in a lot of respects all my life. I've had some some big global adventures, but I've also sat in a board room and imagined how I'd dispense someone who is being a bully or an ass. I've rescued the damsel in distress more times than I can count. I've saved animals, stopped the bad guys, and all other manners of heroic deeds. Probably safe to assume there are plenty of us on this board. We do, after all, sit and discuss a fantasy world in depth.
I've definitely zoned out plenty of times while playing out entire scenarios in my head. Also, very much like Walter, I have a muse. That in itself can be very powerful and moving. It can also be very liberating. It has for me.
This film went through several leads and directors the past 15 years or so before being made. After reading who was involved in the past, that was a Godsend. Ben Stiller is perfect as the lead, outstanding as the director. Equally outstanding is Kristen Wiig. She captures the everywoman perfectly. Nice to see her in something serious.
I'll most likely see this again this weekend. I will absolutely buy this as soon as it's available. No two ways about it, I give The Secret Life of Walter Mitty a solid 5 out of 5 winks.
