Will Ferrell, Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson in Stranger Than Fiction

In Reality, 'Fiction' is Not Bad

When Professor Jules Hilbert (played by Dustin Hoffman) tells writer Karen Eiffel (Emma Thompson) describes her book as "It's OK. It's not bad," he could be talking about the movie itself, "Stranger than Fiction."

The film explores a subject that has been broached numerous times in literature, a writer whose character comes to life (Stephen King did it in the short story "Umney's Last Case" for one).

In "Fiction" the hero of Eiffel's latest book, Harold Crick (Will Ferrell), is living his last days. Little does he know, his death is imminent, as long as Eiffel can figure out how to write it. Eiffel is besieged by writer's block. Thompson overplays the part, a writer who is overexerted because she can't finish her book. She's a recluse because she hasn't completed a book in a decade.

Eventually Crick starts hearing Eiffel's thoughts in his head. He starts to question his sanity because he can't make her voice disappear. Enter Ferrell's comical talent. His goofiness lends to his character losing control, completely out of character for Crick. Working for the IRS, Crick is your stereotypical movie-IRS employee: no fun, no friends, boring because he has to be. Ferrell's performance is engaging. He's not slapsticky except when he has to be. But the role isn't so demanding that you're left in awe of Ferrell. It's a good stepping stone if he intends to show he also is capable of acting in serious roles, a la Jim Carrey.

Crick has to audit a baker, Ana Pascal (Maggie Gyllenhaal). Enter the love story. Inexplicably, Pascal falls for Crick. There's no reason for it. She's the complete opposite of him, a pseudo-anarchist, baker/philanthropist who can't stand the government and worse, the taxman. Crick falls for her from the get-go. Eventually they get together and fall in love. The love story between Pascal and Crick is trite, but enjoyable, thanks to Gyllenhaal's and Ferrell's compatibility.