Stranger than Fiction: Not what you expect from Will Ferrell

I think this is one of those movies that simply passed most people by but I for one really appreciated Ferell's capabilities in a serious role. Up until this point I am relatively certain that Will had only been involved in over-the-top comedic roles which is fine. I mean, that is what we all love him for and he is very good at it. The being said, this film, while it does have it's comedic moments (from time to time) is a drama.

There aren't very many actors out there that can transition from slapstick comedy to serious drama and nail it. I believe that Adam Sandler is quite good at it (more on that later,) and of course Robin Williams was so good at it that he mostly transitioned to serious roles. Will Ferrell shows his depth as an actor in this film and it was a surprise to me because I knew NOTHING about this movie when I first watched it.

He plays the lead role of Harold Crick, an IRS auditor who lives an almost robotic life of routine. His entire life is dictated by a very specific system including how many times he brushes each side of his teeth each morning. His wristwatch is his life, and he sticks to his timetables with complete accuracy. He is humorless around his colleagues and also happens to be a human calculator - a gift that his coworkers test on a regular basis when they throw complex math problems at him throughout the day. He occasionally will respond to the voice and that is where moments of comedy shine through in this otherwise serious production.

He wakes up one morning to discover that his life is being narrated by a voice and this isn't a spoiler as it is revealed very early on in the film. Harold simply thinks he is imagining it and the narrator is completely unaware that Glick is a real person and has no idea that he can hear her (I know this sounds convoluted but trust me, it works.)

He accidentally meets his love interest in the film, Ana , played by Maggie Gyllenhaal when he is auditing her bakery. Ana is totally different than Harold in that she is free-spirited, outgoing, and a bit of a hippie. I don't want to reveal too much of the story but the whole "opposites attract" interactions between the two of them is quite humorous in a way that is completely different from what you would expect of Ferrel roles. She insults him and he either doesn't get it or responds to her sarcastic questions in a very matter-of-fact type way.

They develop a relationship and it is actually quite touching. However, Glick is torn because he is extremely dedicated to the the myriad of rules the IRS has, one of which specifically prohibits precisely what he is doing.

This film has an all star cast of very accomplished actors and let's see if the trailer does it any justice.

I find it refreshing when accomplished actors in one field will successfully cross over to another. Many have tried but so few can pull it off. I think Ferrel has done a great job in this movie and the rest of the cast is fantastic as well. I can't rate this film too high because a bit part of the reason why it is good is simply because Will Ferrell is such an unlikely choice for a serious film.

7 / 10