The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

In Case You Missed It – April 2014

by MCDaveApril 15, 2014

As it appears, April may be a tough month to get through. With the calm before the May Summer Blockbuster storm currently taking place in theatres and almost all of the big-named 2013 titles already reaching DVD in March, there’s very little to get excited about this month. However, there are a few films being released on DVD and Video-On-Demand that should help ease this April lull, and here they are:

#1. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

I’ve always been up and down on Ben Stiller’s career body of work. And after the combination of a trailer that didn’t “grab” me and a critical bashing for his 2013 pet project, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, I must be honest and say expectations were rather low. Thankfully, Stiller didn’t disappoint and his long-awaited film proved to be one that the critics got wrong. Stiller directs and stars as Walter Mitty, a simple man who day dreams about going on adventures and whisking away the the girl of his dreams (played by Kristen Wiig). But when the negative for LIFE Magazine’s final cover goes missing, the opportunity presents itself for Walter to finally seek out a real-life adventure. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a charming and Underrated Film that’s easy to appreciate. (April 15th)

#2. August: Osage County

Nominated for a pair of acting Oscars, August: Osage County isn’t a film for everyone. Based on a stage play of the same name, the film is short on action and heavy on dialogue. The audience is forced to watch closely as Weston family reconnects following the passing of their patriarch. Meryl Streep stars as Violet Weston, the unloving and drug-addicted mother that works her hardest to break down each and every member of the family by pointing out their flaws. This dark comedy is by no means an easy watch, but fans of strong dialogue and off-kilter humor may enjoy this rather odd tale of a family consumed with secrets. (April 8th)

#3. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

It was difficult finding a third option to suggest for the month of April, so I decided to go with the comedy Anchorman 2. The first installment was an outlandish pioneer of sorts, but this sequel is an overextended and somewhat recycled shell of the original. Once again, Will Ferrell stars as the self-absorbed and arrogant Ron Burgundy who looks to reinvent himself after losing his job to his wife (sound familiar?). When the old team gets back together, Burgundy and company transform news from the informative platform it once was, to the ludicrous fluff it has become. There’s plenty of laugh-out-loud humor at the expense of a two-hour long senseless story that feels eerily similar to the original. (April 1st)

Honorable Mention: One film I’m yet to mention is the Best Picture Nominee Philomena (4/15) which captured the hearts of many audiences. I personally felt that the film was a little anti-climactic but I was clearly in the minority. Fans of the fantasy franchise The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (4/8) can rejoice and catch up with the latest installment’s DVD release. I wasn’t a fan of the unrealistic single mother drama Labor Day (4/29) starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin, but I’ve met many others who enjoyed the film.

Geekscape Movie Reviews: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

by MCDaveDecember 24, 2013

It’s easy to label Ben Stiller as a typecast actor who’s perfect in any awkward and nerdy shy-guy role. But truth be told, that’s simply a cop out. Stiller has played a major part in the writing, directing and acting prevalent in well-regarded films such as Reality Bites, Zoolander and Tropic Thunder. And when The Secret Life of Walter Mitty finally reaches theatres this Christmas Day, we’ll get to add his finest work to the top of that last.

Walter Mitty (Stiller) is a boring and unsociable day-dreamer who constantly uses his imagination to escape reality. Throughout all of these fantasies, Walter partakes in unfathomable acts of heroism in order to win the affection of his co-worker Cheryl (Kristen Wiig). But when reality sets in at the office and he can’t find the vital print of Life magazine’s final cover, Walter must live his ultimate fantasy in order recover the image and impress the woman he desires.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is one of those movies that you can’t help but enjoy. With reserved expectations, Ben Stiller’s latest project is a surprisingly strong effort. The film blends together beautiful cinematography with a well-acted and meaningful story. Stiller deserves all the credit as both the leading actor and the visionary director behind this whimsical adventure. He creates an affable character that commands the audience’s adoration. Walter becomes someone worth rooting for, and that makes all the difference in the success of the feature. As a result, his journey ends up more marvelous and salient than you ever dreamed possible.

Despite its greatest of intentions, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is occasionally off-the-mark. Stiller’s hard-headed desire to create such a perfect and delightful little story leads to a weak conclusion, one that panders to the unnecessary fairy-tale ending that feels oddly misplaced. Walter’s expedition and transformation are purposeful enough, the rest is just fluff and overkill. Give me a pair of scissors and five minutes in the editing room, and I’d take about 10 minutes or so right off the end. However, Stiller has the final say and he misses badly by tying a pretty bow on everything.

Although it has its flaws, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is completely entertaining and definitely worth a watch. The imagery is phenomenal and the soundtrack is definitely on point. You’ll be swept away by its characters and there are plenty of elements to enjoy with Ben Stiller’s most recent addition.

GRADE: 4/5

Check out MovieCriticDave’s home site with other fun things like a look at Christian Bale’s Top 10 Performances.

‘The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty’ Gets An Extended 6-Minute Trailer!

by Derek KraneveldtDecember 3, 2013

Briefly: I cannot wait for this film.

I’d never heard of the movie, or the James Thurber short story that it’s based on, before seeing the first trailer some months ago. I still get excited each and every time the trailer pops up in the theatre, and that wonderful Of Monsters and Men track has become part of my daily playlist.

20th Century Fox has just debuted a six-minute long extended trailer for the film. I haven’t actually watched it, seeing as six minutes sounds like it could get a little spoilery, but it’s embedded below for your viewing pleasure.

Take a look at the video, and let us know what you think! the Secret Life of Walter Mitty hits theatres on December 25th!

Ben Stiller directs and stars in THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY, James Thurber’s classic story of a day-dreamer who escapes his anonymous life by disappearing into a world of fantasies filled with heroism, romance and action. When his job along with that of his co-worker (Kristen Wiig) are threatened, Walter takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined.