I just saw a screening of Stranger Than Fiction last night, and it was a really enjoyable movie. If I was reviewing it for a magazine, I'd probably give it a B+. Will Ferrell is the heart of the movie, and Dustin Hoffman was a strong supporting male character. I was pleasantly surprised at the strong supporting roles for women in this movie. Emma Thompson was wonderfully neurotic, and Maggie Gyllenhall was just completely inhabiting her character. I've had the good fortune to see her speak in person, and she's just as genuine as she appears in this film. When awards season comes around, I wouldn't be surprised to see some supporting actor nominations for this film. The only exception being Queen Latifah, who was unfortunately wasted in a role that was just way too toned down for her personality. As for the movie itself, it was a real gem, a crowd pleaser without talking down to its audience. I've been disappointed by so many movies this year, but this one really worked on the emotional and mental levels.… Expand

I went into Stranger Than Fiction expecting to see a Best Picture nominee but it turns out to be only a Top 10 film instead.A great story that positively soars when Emma Thompson is narrating the action but coasts on auto-pilot when she's not. The cast is excellent, it's so great to see Miss Thompson back in a smart adult role to show everyone theres more than Helen Mirren and Kate Winslet when it comes to English actresses. Will Ferrell, "little did he know", has made his best screen performance yet, similar to Jim Carrey in The Truman Show. And then there's Dustin Hoffman, whose name on the credits is reason enough to go see a movie, and once again is perfect here, as is Maggie Gyllenhaal. Marc Forster has again teamed with Roberto Schaffer for yet another visually stunning film that looks like a big budget f/x blockbuster but remains a simple little "what if" movie, a little to simple for Best Picture consideration but save a space on your Top 10 list for it otherwise.… Expand

Just okay...premise was good, actors were good, but it in the end, it was fairly lite on laughs and the film failed to support the premise. It was clever...but I didn't care. Wait for the DVD.

Amazing writing, very well acted. The 67 is criminal and critics should be ashamed. Will Farrell could have easily over acted in this role and killed the spirit of the film but instead he put in his best performance to date.

One of the best of 2006. Forget everything you've ever thought about Will Ferrell. This is an entirely different actor and a different role. He was great...and the rest of the cast was a pleasant surprise. Far surpassed expectations.

Will Ferrell and Maggie Gyllenhaal have surprisingly warm, glowey electricity between them in this film. However, their adorable relationship ends up taking a back seat to their otherwise fantastic performances, a classic Dustin Hoffman and a refreshing comedic Emma Thompson performance, and greatest of all, the most unique, clever storyline since Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

I enjoyed this movie. It was well acted. Farrell, Thompson and Hoffman bring subtle performances which give the story a grounded feeling, yet carries a plot that teases us with metaphysical questions.

This movie was great-- just a lot of fun and really entertaining. Don't listen to these pretentious snobs who give it bad reviews. Really, what do they know?

The necessity when analyzing this film is to do so from the proper reference frame. Despite what others critics have said the substance in 'Stranger Than Fiction" has nothing to do with the gimmick of hearing a voice. Sure that's the context by which the story is told, but it's just a pretext. Dustin Hoffman

Even knowing that it was not to be a traditional "Will Ferrell" comedy did not prepare me for the touching and well-done Stranger than Fiction. Truly the best it could have been.

"Stranger than Fiction" is a movie that should be seen twice. When I watch it again, I'm going to pay very close attention to what happens after that metal ball crashes through Harold Click's apartment. This seemingly cinematic non-sequitir acts as a metaphor for deconstruction (in literary theory, this is a post-structuralist term), which signifies to me, that the film might be harboring a secret war between the structuralists (binary oppositions is one of their modes of inquiry; in the film, it's represented by comedy/tragedy) and Roland Barthes (a post-structuralist) fans (I think he once proclaimed that there is no author). On a second viewing, I hope that the film undergoes a transformation from a structuralist to a post-structuralist school of thought after that demolition scene. If this film was written by Charlie Kaufman, it would. The metafiction in "Stranger than Fiction" might not be as clever as "Adaptation"(or even Neil LaBute's underappreciated "Nurse Betty"), but this imitative screenplay of a superior film is better than, say, "EdTV", which was a byproduct of "The Truman Show". For all the literary pyrotechnics (some are airborne, some are duds) that "Stranger than Fiction" attempts, it's the performances by Will Ferrell and Maggie Gyllenhaal that carries the film. Their romantic chemistry is so strong, "Stranger than Fiction", arguably, doesn't really need all that extraneous allusions to comparative literature. This is Will Ferrell's "Punchdrunk Love". He is a credible male dramatic lead. Gyllenhaal, on the other hand, finds a new way to be Meg Ryan, which is to say, she's a sweetheart without having to sacrifice her innate intelligence and toughness to be lovable.… Expand

I loved this movie! It is funny, and sweet, and touching without being sappy. I thought Will Ferrell gave a wonderfully subtle performance as a guy gradually waking up to what life is really about. I liked everybody else in the film too, wonderful actors giving wonderful performances. I think this film may actually have been a little too subtle for many people and that this is the reason for some of the more negative reviews. I think it is the best film I have seen this year so far.… Expand

Sadly we live within a culture that accepts a character like the Howard Crick (at the beginning of the film) as a functioning human being - he has a job, pays his rent, acts normal on the street. He is terribly incomplete though, emotional and spiritually, and his transformation into a person who can love, has reasons to live, and even reasons to accept his inevitable (early) death gracefully, is a beautiful thing to watch. All the supporting characters are almost perfect, and allow Will Ferrell to shine in this surprisingly subtle performance. Please see this film.… Expand

Pure cinema magic. The quirkiness of the plot should not distract viewers from the fact that this is a movie with plenty of substance and heart. Some feel the ending is a cop out but I feel it's the finale it deserves and is justified by Emma Thompson's reasoning at the end of the film. The most heartwarming and uplifting film I've seen in some time.

Lovely movie. Simple in every way, yet profound. This was a work rich in literary devices and open to interpretation. It takes a poetic view on the meaning of life, the perception of its quality and what makes it worth living. It exermines the role of a higher purpose in the justification of tragedy and in the process opening the door for a series of possible spiritual and philosophical interpretations. Its a hugely significant movie that every one should see.… Expand

An unexpectedly moving drama. A critic listed here gave it a 38 (!?), draws an unfair comparison to 'Adaption' and 'I Heart Huckabee'. Unfair because those two flawed films start out modestly and with promise, but peter out in as pretentious messes. Better comparisons are 'The Truman Show' and 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' (both starred JIm Carrey, hmmm...).… Expand

Will Ferrell is likeable enough, and his acting in this movie is best after he learns his fate - or the fate of his character. Or whatever. He seems to me, though, to come across a little like Steve Martin in Shop Girl, in that he is most especially a blank canvas on which the supporting cast paints. His main character being a creation of the others' interaction with him. The reason this movie thrives anyway is because that happens to be exactly what the story is about. What luck. But to my mind, this movie belongs chiefly to Thompson, Hoffman, and Gyllenhaal. I am now distinctly aware of how embarrassingly few Emma Thompson movies I've seen, because she is brilliant -and brilliant physically- in this. Her first (visible) scene won me over for good. And as for Hoffman.... Has there been a more graceful transition from starring in great films to just being in great films? He has the best-timed line in the whole thing: "Do you have magical powers?" Hilarious.… Expand

Even though the critics were close on this one, it's even better than they said. This is by far the best movie Will Ferrell has been in. He's helped by good performances from Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman. Just a very neat movie, with a pretty innovative script. If you like movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless MInd, Existenz, or Being John Malkovich, you'll also like this.… Expand

I was thoroughly won over by this movie. I don't think it's perfect (for instance, Gyllenhaal's character had some crap dialogue most of the way through). Will Ferrell was impressive as a straight actor (his character being the sort of robot/puppet that comes to life) & I love how understated he was throughout most of it. Dustin Hoffman was great---as others have mentioned--he had some of the best lines. However, Emma Thompson was a revelation in this film--easily the best thing about it. Such a hilarious/intelligent/emotive performance--made all the better (I think) by the stern Queen Latifah "assistant" character. They played well off each other---though you really couldn't take your eyes off Thompson. I haven't read the novel, so I can't comment on how well it was adapted---but as a movie, I think it was terribly overlooked last year when it was released. Definitely worth your DVD time and a solid movie overall.… Expand

I think this is a much better movie than the critics are rating and my 3 friends who watched it at my behest all agreed that it is one of the best movies we've ever seen. It is a "quiet", and utterly compelling movie. The cast is superb (Will Farrell is perfect in the role and his reaction in the scene where the professor (Dustin Hoffman) tells him that the ending where he dies will make the novel truly great, therefore he really should allow the author to "kill" him is one of the best pieces of acting that I've ever seen. Emma Thompson gives her "usual" extraordinary performance. An intelligent, witty script provides the basis for all.… Expand

A sweet story made to make audiences leave the theater with that warm and fuzzy feeling. This was the first film I"ve seen Will Ferrell in that I didn't feel like walking out on. His deadpan characterization of Harold Crick makes the movie. If I had to have my life narrated I wouldn't mind hearing Emma Thompsons voice.

A clever script and a good love story keep this one going. Its mildly funny at times. The soundtrack is great. I personally thought the ending was disappointing.

I agree that it was fun but could have been done better. Not sure what Queen L.'s contribution was and what the value of the time spent on the love interest was (other than to become a "date" movie. But I did enjoy it.

Ok, it was actually a really good movie.. I enjoyed it. It made you think and will ferrel is better in serious movies. Not my favorite, but i enjoyed it a whole lot

Based on its commercials, I went into this film thinking it would be a comedy. Boy was I wrong. There's few things I hate more in this world than romantic comedies, and this romantic TRAGEDY is one of them. I'm sure I may have enjoyed it more if I came to it expecting something different, but as it was advertised as a comedy, I'll hold it to its tremendous shortcomings in the funny departmant.… Expand

This is a really good and thoroughly enjoyable film. It's funny everytime you watch it. The ending lets it down quite a LOT, to be honest. But that's the only fault it has the burden of bearing. My 11 year old sister actually loves it too, so it clearly has mass appeal for a very wide and varied audience. Recommended.

The writing for this was NOT amazing. Funny how I was making my own list of whether this was a comedy or a tragedy throughtout the film. The actors were great, but I just didn't care and found myself checking my watch more than once. The comedy is so lame that you laugh more at the one person laughing in the theater than what actually happens on the screen. With all the other great films out right now, this one is worth waiting for the rental.… Expand

This movie is like walking into "target", as opposed to adaptation's walking into a local record store that is actually cool. absolutely embarrassing to watch. it feels like this horrible, predicticably "quirky" movie was written by 40 year old advertising people that desperately jump on the "indie-cool-whatever bandwagon a little too late because they are affraid that their teenage daughters will stop finding them cool. i would have much rather seen any other piece of garbage on the multiplex, at least they are upfront about their commercial intents. this movie has artistic pretentions that painfully fall flat on their faces. the people who made this movie assume that we will like it because it references "cool" "weird" movies that did well before, but to whomever directed/produced/wrote this movie: adaptation works not simply beacuse its quirky and "cool looking"; it works because it has heart, charisma, intelligence and a sense of humor. and whats up with maggie gylenhall as the "punk" cookie baker? seriously, flags of our fathers has more of a "punk" "indie" edge than this movie. … Expand

I agree with you James H. What do the critics know? Not much. This is a thoroughly enjoyable film. Will Farrell is great and I never thought I'd say that about him. I've never been a big fan of his, but in this movie he nailed the role. Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thomson were also wonderful in their parts. There were so many layers to this film. If they had just stuck to getting the voice out of his head the movie would have flopped. But they went beyond that. This is also a movie about having control of ones own life as well as having the power to control others - and how to face both of those situations. It's about love and compassion and relationships. I guess that's something that the critics have trouble relating to. If it's not mean, repulsive, insulting, angry or juvenile (like Borat) the critics just aren't going to buy into it.… Expand

Funny only in part, but the comdey implied by the previews was not the primary objective of this film. It was thought provoking and rather well done, but a little disappointing if you went for the laughs.

Not a comedy as the trailers for the movie suggest. More like a chick flick with a twist. It was... alright.

I agree completely with tadeo C. below...movies that add quirky plot devices for the sole purpose of upping the intellectual factor really rubs me the wrong way...because, similar to what brett K. says below, this movie at its core is a decent chick flick. i guess arrogance is a major pet peeve of mine... on a side note, hoffman puts in a great performance, but like another reviewer mentioned, i really wished i was watching "i heart huckabees" instead... and as far as SNL-comedy-actor-serious-role movies go (or whatever genre you want to call it), adam sandler in punch drunk love is WAY better.… Expand

Like drinking a relaxing glass of champagne.

So go out and have some fun! Our audience lol'd many times. The script is not all that complicated, nor do you have a doctorate in literary theory to enjoy yourself. Great performances. Clever, not complicated story.

Fun movie, entertaining characters.

Creative, original, different, highly entertaining, fun, new, and surprisingly good. One of the best movies of the year.

A remarkable, orginal well acted film with an excellent cast.One of the best movies I've seen this year!

A pathetic excuse of a script but Will Ferrell's amazing performance is the real treat here. He shows that a comedic actor doesn't have to grow a beard to make the switch to drama.

An outstanding, original film! I was surprised to see Ferrell play, so wonderfully, a genuine, serious, and human character. Gyllenhaal and Hoffman both easily fill ther rolls, however Latifah's character was so insignificant that I can't understand why she was cast for the assistant. Thankfully, she has little enough involvment, she can't sabatage this clever and hilarious film. One of the reviews said this would be a good date movie, however I STRONGLY disagree. This movie has more downs than ups. The date I brought to this movie was actually slightly sadden by the film, far from the mood I was aiming for.… Expand

I didn't have high expectations, but the movie snuck up on me. One of my favs of the year.

I was really bored with this movie, in fact my friend that I was watching it with completely fell asleep....the last 15 minutes were ok.

'Stranger Than Fiction' is a film that joyfully toys with perception and reality and then, finally, offers both a formulaic and ambiguous conclusion. The performances are all quite good and the story is amusing and amusingly perplexing. Yet, even still, I found our hero's journey and eventual acceptance of his strange fate a tad bit forced to serve the needs of the plot. I marginally recommend this film, but with pronounced reservations.… Expand

Will Ferrel is brilliant in the role of IRS agent Harold Crick. His on-screen chemistry with the delightful Maggie Gyllenhaal makes this the best romantic comedy of 2006 and definitely in the top 10 of the last decade. The disappointment stems from the fact that the film attempts to draw you into the beauty of life and the importance of not squandering what you are given, then cops out in the final act. Turning what could've been a meaningful film into "just" a romantic comedy. Oh well!… Expand

One of the best, most original, best scripted, profound, simple, heartbreaking, surprising, and fascinating movies I've ever seen. I think what lead to so many bad reviews was their expectations of comedy, which this is not. If your looking for a laugh, or have ADD, pass this one by.

I thought it was very good. Ferrell does a good job and Gyllenhaal was well casted. It wasn't the typical rehashed formulaic plot. Definitely worth watching.

I'm sorry but there was not a minute of this movie that felt convincing or authentic. The writer and directer seemed so intent on making a whimsical, quirky Charlie Kaufman movie that they for got to just make a movie. This totally exemplifies my biggest complaint with Hollywood fare these days-That they always feel as if they were scientifically designed in a laboratory instead of brought to life in the heart and mind of an artist. One more question now needs to asked as well. When did Dustin Hoffman change from being a great actor to a very bad one? I honestly can not remember the last time I saw him connect with anyone he was working with. He sucks whatever life this film has when he is onscreen.… Collapse

Could have been an interesting concept but the leaden production and wooden characters turn it into one big yawn. The only bright spark comes from Maggie Gyllenhaal's character Ana Pascal who seems to be delighted by her audit. She even manages to bring Will Ferrell's character to live for brief periods. A little more depth to the story and less mumbling on the part of the remaining cast and this could have been a quite entertaining movie. Instead I found myself checking the time to see how much more of this torture I had to endure before I found out the ultimate fate of Mr Crick… Expand

For the record, H C., this isn't actually based on a novel. It's an original screenplay, not an adaptation. That said, I agree with everything else you mentioned, including Emma Thompson's brilliance. (potential spoiler ahead...) I enjoyed her reaction to the ringing phone as she typed, and hovered over that final period...then she practically screams when she hits it and the phone rings again...(I also liked her death fantasies.) I suppose this is a Kaufman-esque concept movie, but I don't think it should be considered Kaufman Lite or any sort of rip-off, which I was expecting. I, for one, thought it all worked wonderfully.… Expand

The story is ridiculously far-fetched, and you expect holes that you could drive a crane through. But after suspending your disbelief you can enjoy the film quite easily. Nothing super annoying, and nothing that will create hype around the film. That lack of hype is what will cause everyone to leave the film happier than when they came. All the character's are cartoonish, which is the way they should be in this story, except for Queen Latifah. Her character was out-of-placedly normal. I think the take home message is "Tragedies are not en vogue." Or maybe it's, "You're not in control of your life, unless you develop a relationship with the Muses."… Expand

Could have been better, but I still thought it was an interesting concept. And I became a Maggie G. convert in the process as well! Emma T. does another great job. Hoffman must be really hard up to do this role...how the mighty have fallen. Queen L. annoys me just by being on camera.

Was really funny *and* affecting. Which is weird because I got the distinct feeling it was kind of a shallow movie and yet, despite this, it worked on me. Absolutely loved it.

I thought this was a wonderful concept that was almost well carried out. It seems, though, that the filmmakers refused to let emotion into play for the audience -- in times when the actors could have been let to go all out and fetch some real emotion for what really were emotionally charged moments at the end, the film makers settled instead for irony. Too bad. The ending sucked.

I really enjoyed the whole concept of this movie. It could have been done better, but it was still very entertaining and well worth the watch.

Very enjoyable, and a nice idea. But does make you wonder if it could have been done better.

Good but still lacking in what i thought it would be. It was good and the storyline was ok. i really like will's comedy stuff so this is different for me.

When you realize you might die any day (and we all will die someday unknown), you might as well use the time left to live the life you have always wanted. Furthermore, you are never too old for anything. Amusing, lovable, tragic, beautiful.

Stranger Than Fiction is a surpirsingly mesmerizing motion picture. Will Ferell delivers his best performance ever. Instead of making an idiot of himself by knocking down furniture and making crude jokes, he gives a quirky and endearing performance. Yes, he does do some of the same things he always does, but here, he uses it to show his dramatic side. And everybody else is great too. The idea is great, the script is funny, dramatic, sweet, and smart, the direction is cool, and the ending made me cry. Overall, this is a very funny, dramatic, smart, and sweet dramedy that is one of Will Ferell's best.… Expand

Stranger Than Fiction is a great comedy/drama film done very well by Will Farrell.

STRANGER THAN FICTION, a dark comedy-drama from comedian Will Ferrell (TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY; BLADES OF GLORY) and director MARC FORSTER (QUANTUM OF SOLACE; THE KITE RUNNER) is quite notably funny, and even when you think you're going to regret laughing (I won't ruin the movie for those of you who have not seen it), you do not regret anything at all.

In Stranger Than Fiction, Will Ferrel's turns his best dramatic performance to date, while working with a fantastic original screenplay by Zach Helm.

"Stranger Than Fiction" is a truly heartfelt, whimsical and skillfully written dramedy, as well as a showcase for Will Ferrell's true talent.