John Brooks The first remark that comes to mind when thinking of this film is it's good from the very start...to the end ! So many in fact a vast, vast majority of Hollywood mainstream films that do well at being engaging at first will only throw out an entertaining idea to be entertained by its audience for a while, before that idea is exhausted and the experience wears very thin. Here, it holds up til the end, and the conclusion isn't a rushed potato salad that contrasts hard in quality with the earlier developments and hopes of the movie.Some have saluted Ferrel's "excellent acting", while others have condemned it saying this role was stripping him of his natural charm that people watch him for in the first place. You must agree at least a bit with the first view. He does superbly well at being a hybrid, a lead character torn between being a mere fictional hero of some narrated story and an actual individual with feelings and opinions and emotions. He conveys that very well.Emma Thompson pretty good also.There are lots of symbols in this film, about the daily life... about just life. The importance of it. It gives an interesting perspective on it. And it does really well to be ambiguous with the two levels it works on but coherent all the same and manage to actually come up with a strong resolve out of that awkward mingling.One of the rare films of its kind to deliver from A to Z. Well done. Certainly more than a mere amusing Hollywood comedy.

Coen Jacobs OMG what did I just watch? Not what I was expecting at all. This film has blown me away.I love this concept. It's smart, it's clever and most definitely thought provoking. It's kinda a mediocre Kaufman screenplay, but hey, a mediocre Kaufman is still better than 99% of modern day screenplays.Will Ferrell shakes his usual (not trying to sound pretentious here) simpler comedies to do what previously Jim Carrey did in Eternal Sunshine (a Kaufman you must definitely watch) and Adam Sandler in PTA's Punch Drunk Love to give a serious role full of emotion and masterful acting. I was blown away by how good his performance was. He hit all the emotional strings, his delivery was impeccable and you can't help but love him.I think I particularly relate to Will Ferrell's Harold. He use to be obsessed with number and statistics (I spent time memorising Pi in the 100s of decimal places) but through a girl, a realisation and dreams, all me as well, (He listens to punk rock music as well!!) he comes to terms with death to live his life the way he wants and spread a bit of good in the world, which of course is the direction I want to take. Maybe the narration bit wasn't exactly me but oh well. \_(ツ)_/¯The performances by Hoffman, Thomson and Gyllenhaal are all also great. No faults or complaints here.The film hits the marks on all points in direction, storytelling, acting and emotional elevation, already making it better than most comedies and even films in America's recent cinematic history. So why not 5 stars? Well as aforementioned it's a mediocre Kaufman so not quite the level of perfection to earn it full stars, but I felt the third act was a minor (very minor) letdown compared to the first two. Don't get me wrong I still love it. It's still full of the cynicism, optimism, humour and care the first two had, but for a third act it didn't have quite the impact I expected given the build up. A minor and tiny nitpick but enough to cost it full marks.Definitely check it out, it's worth it 100%. Expect laughs, good acting and clever and thought provoking ideas and messages given through 2 hours of emotion and great imagery.

theroommatereview Unfortunately I can't say too much here without spoiling everything, but what I can say is that there is more to this movie than meets the eye. Beyond the awkward story of Harold's life being narrated by a pessimistic writer there is a underlying subtext you can find if you dig deep enough. On the surface this looks just like another rom-com with a twist. Like Bruce All Mighty, Yes Man, or even the animal, but this film actual has a strong undercurrent that raises it beyond the rest. I'd only recommend this film to the particularly artsy individuals out there who want something different. If nothing else the bleak sarcastic humor is charming and everyone preforms there roles exceptionally. If you want to know more about the subtext of the film follow the link below to my in-depth video review. Of course there will be spoilers there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CceG4OMqOJI

nat_power IMO one of the best movies Will Ferrell has ever done. This isn't your typical Ferrell movie folks. Stranger Than Fiction is a fantastic comedy from start to finish, and from the story to the characters. The idea of the movie alone is interesting and Forster and this cast pull it off well. One of my favorite parts of this movie is of course Emma Thompson being the writer unknowingly deciding his fate and Maggie Gyllenhaal is perfect as Ferrell's love interest. Ferrell is actually directed brilliantly by Forster who keeps him tamed and used effectively.All in all if your a fan of will ferret I recommend this movie.