STRANGER THAN FICTION IN SOUTH AFRICA

Known to most audiences for his hilarious characters funnyman Will Ferrell continues to try his hand at more serious material with STRANGER THAN FICTION. The film comes as relatively light fare for director Marc Foster whose previous works were FINDING NEVERLAND and MONSTERS BALL. While not exactly a drama the film shifts between humorous and heavy realms one of its central questions being What makes a comedy or a tragedy In WINTER PASSING and MELINDA AND MELINDA Ferrell awkwardly occupied a strange space that was neither clearly dramatic nor comedic leaving audiences confused over whether to laugh at the actor or with him. Here in the role of boring Harold Crick he appears a bit more at ease as Harold is not expected to be funny--funny things just happen to him. Instead of depending on Ferrell for jokes the film delivers laughs on its own by exploring what happens when an IRS agent with a dull solitary life receives unwanted company in the form of an intrusive female voice narrating his every move. As distracting as this is things become truly worrisome when the narrator (Emma Thompson as an eccentric author) informs Harold of his looming death. How Harolds life changes as a result of this terrifying knowledge depends largely on wacky Professor Jules Hilbert (Dustin Hoffman) and on tax-evading baker/love interest Ana Pascal (Maggie Gyllenhaal). While Queen Latifahs role as an authors assistant is underdeveloped Tony Hale brings an innocent charm as Harolds coworker and only friend. At times the films take on existentialist themes feels strikingly familiar and is clearly influenced by features like ADAPTATION and I HEART HUCKABEES. Among its strengths the film features interesting sets seemingly influenced by the 1950s version of the future and functions as a small step forward for Ferrell.