The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Based on James Thurber’s short story, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty follows the meek title character (Ben Stiller) as he embarks on a rather epic adventure to track down a reclusive photographer (Sean Penn’s Sean O’Connell). Before it reaches that point, however, the movie primarily concerns itself with Walter’s day-to-day difficulties and his penchant for daydreaming away his problems. Filmmaker Stiller, working from Steve Conrad’s screenplay, does a nice job of initially establishing the title character and his low-key existence, although, by that same token, it’s clear that the storyline, in its early stages, has been adorned with a few too many plot threads (eg Walter’s crush on Kristen Wiig’s Cheryl, Walter’s dealings with his sister and mother, Walter’s rivalry with Adam Scott’s smug Ted, etc). It’s obvious, then, that The Secret Life of Walter Mitty improves substantially as it charges into its globetrotting midsection, with the film’s radical shift in tone, which isn’t quite as seamless as one might’ve hoped, admittedly, paving the way for a second half revolving mostly around Walter’s wanderlust and the degree to which it ultimately changes and improves his life. Stiller’s expectedly stirring turn as the central character plays an integral role in the movie’s success, to be sure, with the actor’s affable performance matched by a strong supporting case that includes, among others, Kathryn Hahn, Shirley MacLaine, and Patton Oswalt. By the time the very sweet, very affecting finale rolls around, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty has confirmed its place as a superior comedy/drama that’s often much more profound than its marketing materials may have indicated.

***1/2 out of ****