The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

If you ask me, I think that Ben Stiller's work as a director eclipses his work as an actor. That's not to say that he's not a good actor, but the films that really stand out for me are the ones that he's directed. And with his first film since 2008's Tropic Thunder, Stiller has made a heartwarming film about living in the moment.

Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) is a lowly worker for Life magazine, with designs on dating a fellow colleague, Cheryl Melhoff (Kristen Wiig). Walter is prone to having daydreams that leave him zoned out in the real world, much to the discomfort of those around him. One day Walter arrives at work to find that they are discontinuing the printed version of the magazine and are downsizing their staff numbers. The man in charge of this is the abrasive Ted Hendricks (Adam Scott), who wants Walter to track down a missing negative of a photo taken by mysterious photographer Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn).

Ben Stiller is an extremely versatile actor. While he is known for his comedic roles, some of them even bordering on silly (White Goodman in Dodgeball), he isn't afraid to take on more serious roles. Though this film isn't a straight drama, it does have comedic elements to it. But overall, the ultimate message of the film is about living in the moment and discovering who you really are.

Likewise, Kristen Wiig has made a remarkable jump from comedy to the dramatic. Wiig is known for her hilarious roles on Saturday Night Live and Bridesmaids (which she also wrote). But in Walter Mitty she transforms into an actress who can give depth and background to her character.

Adam Scott is hilariously evil in a departure from the usually hilariously nice characters he plays on TV (Party Down, Parks and Recreation). Cameos from both Sean Penn and Patton Oswalt are rewarding.

Verdict: Whilst Walter Mitty is a pleasing ride that does give us some things to reflect on in our own lives, it doesn't really push any boundaries in terms of telling a story.