Stranger than Fiction

I picked up Stranger than fiction on an utterly boring day. Let’s just say the big bad wolf had decided to close down everything in Karachi. With only one movie lying at home I decided to watch it anyway. Just to add to this list I’m not particularly a big fan of Will Ferrell. So I fully expected it to be another cringe worthy comedy like the Holiday considering it had another star studded cast. Contrarily, this film was quirky and incredibly ironic.

Will Ferrell plays a boring IRS agent named Harold Crick who takes no risks and calculates every decision in his life. He measures and counts everything from the brush strokes he makes while brushing to the steps he takes to the bus stop. Until one crazy morning when he un-expectantly finds a woman’s voice narrating his every movement, feeling and desire. Confused and angry he looks up at the heavens to make this voice go away. This is where Emma Thompson introduced to the audience. She plays a writer named Kay Eiffel with a severe writers block. She is half way through writing a book on Harold Crick without even knowing that he actually exists. She doesn’t realize that as she writes the book things move and respond in the same way in Harold’s Life. The only problem is that Eiffel only writes Tragedies. While she figures out how Harold dies she helps him change his views on life love and relationships in general.

Emma Thompson gives a brilliant performance in this film. Her soothing narration in the first half compels you to wait until she makes an appearance. Highly recommended for people who liked Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.