II Loved this film! It was nice to see Ferrell playing a more serious part. (I was under the impression that he might not play a serious role very well.) However I think his performance in this was good. I think the film was clever, maybe a little disappointing for his usual fans. I liked the graphics and I loved the fact that there were points in the film where you didn't really like his character as so often in films the protagonist is there to be encouraged by the audience, willed to succeed and receive their happy ending. Maggie Gyllenhaal also put in a good performance, although i didn't always believe the chemistry between her and Ferrell. There was an element of 'star crosses lovers' in the plot as Ferrel plays an IRS auditor whilst Gyllenhaal believes she shouldn't have to pay all her taxes, their belief systems are so different it seems unlikely they will ever fit together. However, this is a favourite element of stories therefore as the audience you suspect its inevitable they will fall in love. I thought there were a few good twists in the plot and i particularly liked Emma Thompson's performance, she added a little eccentricity to the film and possibly a little insight into the way writers do their work. I also really liked the soundtrack which like the film was a little alternative. I would definitely recommend this film to anyone who likes things that are a little different from the usual blockbuster but maybe suggest some of Ferrell's fans could be a little disappointed as they may sit down to watch it with certain expectations.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Comedy - Director: Tony Dow - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: John Challis, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Tessa Peake-Jones, Gwyneth Strong
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Much was written about Will Ferrell's first "dramatic role" as Harold Crick, an IRS ... more
auditor who begins hearing a voice narrating his life. ButStranger Than Fictionis hardly a drama. However, what Ferrell does--like Jim Carrey before him inThe Truman Sh...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Will Ferrell stars as Harold Crick, a lonely tax man whose world is turned upside-down ... more
when he starts hearing a mysterious voice narrating his life. With the help of Professor Jules Hilbert, the bewildered and hilariously resistant Harold discovers he'...
Advantages: A unique, intriguing and well-written story with some powerful performances. Disadvantages: the ending has been considered by some to be too neatly tied up.
Advantages: Easy to understand - documents ALL her life and her impact upon England as a ruler. Disadvantages: Some people might prefer a 'traditional' film adaptation.
Advantages: Witty, gritty, thrilling... the best gangster film I've seen in years. Disadvantages: A bit of a Deus ex machina ending, some predictable moments...negligable really
Entwife 08.06.2007 (04.02.2008)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Departed (DVD)
Are you the manufacturer / provider of Stranger Than Fiction (DVD)? Click here
![Stranger Than Fiction [DVD] [2006]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78098188.jpg "Stranger Than Fiction [DVD] [2006]")
![Stranger Than Fiction [2006]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/103283105.jpg "Stranger Than Fiction [2006]")
May 29th, 2009
helpful by (100%):
