Stranger Than Fiction

Name: Stranger Than Fiction
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance
Released: November 10, 2006
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 67
Cast: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Will Ferrell

2006

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 379 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 379 Ratings

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Stranger Than Fiction

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: November 10, 2006 | PG-13

Starring: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Will Ferrell

Summary: Will Ferrell plays Harold Crick, an IRS Agent whose world is turned upside-down when he begins to hear his life being chronicled by a narrator only he can hear. The Narrator, Kay Eiffel (Emma Thompson), a nearly forgotten author of tragic novels, is struggling to complete her latest and best book, unaware that her protagonist is alive andWill Ferrell plays Harold Crick, an IRS Agent whose world is turned upside-down when he begins to hear his life being chronicled by a narrator only he can hear. The Narrator, Kay Eiffel (Emma Thompson), a nearly forgotten author of tragic novels, is struggling to complete her latest and best book, unaware that her protagonist is alive and uncontrollably guided by her words. Fiction and reality collide when the bewildered and hilariously resistant Harold hears the Narrator say that events have been set in motion that will lead to his imminent death. (Sony)… Expand

Director: Marc Forster

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 113 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Michael Sragow

In a feat of performing imagination, Ferrell turns his usual extroversion inside out and his usual zaniness into precision, and makes it all work for him. Read full review

M. E. Russell

Maybe the best thing about Stranger Than Fiction is the way it extracts unexpected work from underrated actors. Read full review

Scott Tobias

Amid all this metafictional hoopla lies the real heart of the movie, a tentative romance between Ferrell and a tax-withholding baker played with adorable prickliness by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Read full review

Pete Vonder Haar

An oddly sweet little tale, and easily Ferrell’s most enjoyable movie in recent memory. And even though his onscreen chemistry with Gyllenhaal fills me with murderous rage, this film goes a long way towards erasing the memory of his more obnoxious roles. Read full review

Ella Taylor

Teems with ideas both literary and existential, which might make it unbearably precious, were it not redeemed by woozy charm and some serious acting from Will Ferrell. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

An eminently easy-to-watch piece of one-joke pop japery, is a movie that mimics the I'm-a-character-in-my-own-life metaphysical playfulness of "The Truman Show." Read full review

Wesley Morris

Watching the movie made me long for the big , risky ideas and entertainingly fearless filmmaking in David O. Russell's "I Heart Huckabees " and Spike Jonze's "Adaptation ," which Kaufman wrote. Both were similarly conceptual escapades, but they let it all hang out. Read full review

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User Reviews

jAbMaN

Mar 21, 2011

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

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

Bg9199

Apr 9, 2020

This movie is very touching, and brilliantly thought out, with good laughs too, but not in the traditional Will Ferell fashion. One of my top 10 favorite movies of all time.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JeffT

Nov 22, 2006

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 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… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

RJC.

Jun 1, 2007

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 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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

PaulB.

Nov 13, 2006

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.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

MarkS.

Jul 1, 2007

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

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JasonD.

Nov 11, 2006

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 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

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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54	#54 Most Discussed Movie of 2006
56	#56 Most Shared Movie of 2006