Review of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) by Jayne E — 28 Dec 2016

Ben Stiller's The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is heavy on cheese and light on invention. The storyline is relatively predictable, and the titular character follows the usual trope of finding love by finding himself. As an overview, this film does nothing to set itself apart from the thousands of other feel-good films to keep us company with a nice glass of wine.

However, what the film lacks in innovation, it makes up for with sentiment. There is an honesty about yearning that is presented in such a way that anybody who has ever felt a longing for a life well lived can relate to.

The film centers on Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller), a daydreaming negative assets something or other (he "zoned out" while explaining what it was he does himself, so forgive me for not noticing), who cannot find the frame that the legendary photographer Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn) has submitted as the final cover for Life Magazine. Facing the threat of being let go as the magazine undergoes downsizing, Mitty sees no option but to embark on an international adventure to recover the "quintessence of life". In doing so, he also discovers the quintessence of himself.

Accompanied by a stellar indie soundtrack, the film also has a strong performance from Stiller, whose portrayal of a humble man who longs for a little excitement will resonate with audiences drawn to the film. The supporting cast of Sean Penn, Kristen Wigg, Adam Scott, Patton Oswalt and Kathryn Hahn provide both comic relief and unexpected tenderness to the tone of the film.

If you have ever felt the pull for adventure and wished you could escape your humdrum life, this is the film for you. Who knows? It might just inspire you to do it.