Stranger Than Fiction

The narration that haunts Harold Crick's life is one of the best plot devices used in a movie in recent memory. Not only is it inventive in the "Oh, I can't believe no one's thought of that before" way, but it adds much gravitas to an already funny and romantic little gem. In one scene, Harold is forced to keep a tally of things that happen in his day that would indicate if his narration is comedic or tragic. He then begins a rocky and liberating relationship with a baker named Ana (played with that ceaseless charm and sass by Maggie Gyllenhaal). Now when was the last time you remember watching a movie in which all those tired romantic-comedy clichés seemed like a life-or-death matter?

Stranger Than Fiction's scene-stealers are three-fold. Emma Thompson is a hoot as Karen Eiffel, the cold but brilliant British novelist with writer's block who can't quite figure out how to kill the main character in her latest book. Will Ferrell is funny and awkward and likeable as usual in the lead role. But there are some scenes with Maggie Gyllenhaal's character that show a much better actor below the surface than he may have been leading on. Sometimes it just takes a better movie surrounding them and a talented leading lady opposite them to bring the best out of comics like him. (Think Adam Sandler in Punch-Drunk Love or Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine.)

But the movie really belongs to first-time screenwriter Zach Helm. His is a literary, multi-dimensional screenplay infused with humour and heart. Although the theme of living your life to the fullest has been used many times before, it does manage to feel fresh and original here. Forget Little Miss Sunshine. Because Stranger Than Fiction is the feel-nice dramedy of the year.

Grade: B+