Review of Stranger Than Fiction (2006) by Natalie F — 26 Jan 2013

Stranger Than Fiction is an endearing tale of a man being forced -quite physically- outside the box and a woman narrating it. Harold Crick is a man who doesn't know how to live, but still does not deserve to die. He meets people along the way, from the beautiful and anarchic Ana Pascal, to the overtly serious Professor Hilbert. All these characters seem to have their own intentions and desires until confronted with Karen Eiffel: a writer and compulsive smoker, fond of isolation, and utterly preoccupied with killing Harold Crick. We follow these parallel stories, watching them influence each other from afar, waiting for the culminating moment where one of these realities meets a decline.

Unfortunately, the journey is slightly better than the arrival. Instead of an explosion the film fizzles contently. This isn't really a flaw of them film, in fact I enjoyed it immensely. I thought it was measured, smattered with humour and witty. It was very sweet, very beguiling and very careful. So although not a home run for everyone, it was an enjoyable treat to those who have a place for new-age romance. A very conservative 4 stars.