A Novel Idea

Stranger than Fiction. Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson,
Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Dustin Hoffman star in a film written by
Zach Helm and directed by Marc Forster.

Reviewed by Molly Freedenberg

Will Ferrell proves his acting chops in this surprising, sweet,
and smart film about a man who discovers he’s the main character in
a writer’s novel — and the writer plans to kill his character.
Sound Kaufman-esque? It is, sort of. But Stranger than Fiction
isn’t quite as dark and cerebral as Adaptation. Instead, it’s
charming and endearing, which suits it just fine.

Treated differently, the movie could’ve seemed silly or goofy,
and the choice of Ferrell as the lead would seem to suggest that’s
where it would go. But impeccable casting combined with a good
script make this film subtly funny but not too serious.