TheGodling
Los Ingobernables de Sala de Cine
Saw an advance premiere yesterday and I wished it was better than it was. It's not a bad movie by any means but for it's just way too safe, even as a feel-good movie. Matter of fact, people tend to forget but It's A Wonderful Life, arguably the greatest feel-good movie of all time, starts with a man wanting to kill himself. Mitty, before embarking on his life-altering journey, just doesn't come across as a guy whose life needs changing. The daydreaming is about 'the worst' it gets, but Stiller plays those scenes out as jokes rather than emphasize the escapism Mitty is looking for, making him more of a comedy character rather than a tragic figure.
So the movie never quite gets the tone right, which is a shame because in the little moments that it does, the movie really shines (mostly once Mitty embarks on his journey). Outside of the tonal clashes Stiller's direction is pretty great otherwise. It's one of the better looking movies of the year with great cinematography and camera work, and the cast pretty much nails it. Sean Penn in particular is perfect in his five minute role (really an extended cameo), while Patton Oswalt has some stand-out moments as the voice of a technical support guy who checks up on Mitty from time to time.
In the end it's not the game-changer for Stiller as a director (which I think he was aiming for), but it's a fairly entertaining movie nonetheless.
So the movie never quite gets the tone right, which is a shame because in the little moments that it does, the movie really shines (mostly once Mitty embarks on his journey). Outside of the tonal clashes Stiller's direction is pretty great otherwise. It's one of the better looking movies of the year with great cinematography and camera work, and the cast pretty much nails it. Sean Penn in particular is perfect in his five minute role (really an extended cameo), while Patton Oswalt has some stand-out moments as the voice of a technical support guy who checks up on Mitty from time to time.
In the end it's not the game-changer for Stiller as a director (which I think he was aiming for), but it's a fairly entertaining movie nonetheless.
