One of my favorite movies of this year comes out at the end of this week. It's Will Ferrell's new one, Stranger Than Fiction.



It's a quirky tale about a writer (Emma Thompson) who can't figure out how to kill the main character of her next book. Little does she know that the character she thinks she created is real (Will Ferrell) and hears her narration of his life. It's entertaining and original, heartfelt and funny, thoughtful and thought provoking. It made me laugh and almost cry and my cheeks hurt from grinning for prolonged periods of time during the film. It is fantastic.



This role is quite a departure for Will Ferrell from his usual sophomoric antics: it's hilarious while being serious and he pulls it off incredibly well. Like when Jim Carey finally broke out into some real acting in the Truman Show, Stranger Than Fiction is Will Ferrell's chance to act and prove that he can be more than a screaming maniac or a dancing fool. I think this is the best I've ever seen him.



One of the other reasons I love Stranger Than Fiction was the visuals. Everything from the set design to the title effects had me fascinated. I loved the way each scene was set and the choices of locations and furniture. To me, the scenery was as great as the rest of the movie.



The supporting cast in this is just as good as the principle actors. Maggie Gyllenhaal is finally in a recent movie that I like her in. She was good in Monster House but that was just her voice. Stranger Than Fiction redeems her after the abysmal waste of celluloid Trust the Man. Dustin Hoffman shows up as the literary professor who tries to help Ferrell figure out his situation. Hoffman brings his own unique talent to the cast as usual, reminiscent of his nifty role in I Heart Huckabees.



The venerable Queen Latifah plays a more subdued character than usual, in excellent style, as the assistant sent by the publishers to help Emma Thompson's character finish her book on deadline. Latifah is smooth and classy in this role which contrasts wonderfully with Thompson's artistically tortured and slovenly writer. I think Emma Thompson is extraordinary in almost everything she does (Nanny McPhee notwithstanding) and this role is no exception. It's even fun to see her chain smoking as she ponders ways to kill of her main character.

The bottom line is that Stranger Than Fiction is awesome. Do not miss this movie. Perhaps I have a penchant for quirky films, especially those with slightly romantic subplots. I will definitely be going to see Fiction again in the theaters and I will absolutely be adding it to my DVD collection so I can enjoy it for years to come. It's not often that a movie strikes me the way this one does. Don't miss your chance to experience it.

-Minx.