Walter's antiquated profession involves handling and cataloguing photo negatives for LIFE magazine. The digital age has finally caught up with the venerable publication (13 years into the 21st century, mind you), whose new owners (led by a bearded Adam Scott and his likewise bearded minions) are scuttling the print edition and moving the entire operation online. Layoffs are imminent.
Walter is tasked with providing his new bosses with the photo that will grace LIFE's final print edition, a shot taken by legendary photojournalist Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn in an extended cameo) who still shoots on film. But here's the problem: the negative of the photo in question is missing and the meek Walter, fearful for his job, decides he'll have to track down O'Connell in Greenland to get the photo or at least some answers (since O'Connell doesn't have a cell phone and is usually on the road). The ensuing journey will see Walter start to live out some of the very adventures he's so far only fantasized about.
One of the film's problems is that the protagonist's secret life has no real bearing on what he truly wants to gain, which is the heart of Cheryl. She's not privy to any of his actual derring-do overseas, seeing only the changed man -- more confident and presentable-looking -- that he is when he returns. Yes, his adventures give him confidence, but so would a gym membership and a tan from a day at the beach. And the fantasies themselves, while fun and amusing to watch, are remarkably short-lived. They're basically little vignettes in the first act, but then it's all about Walter hiking (or skateboarding) through Greenland, Iceland, and later the Himalayas.
The stakes are remarkably low for a story involving so much fantasy and globe-trotting. It's basically about a guy who wants to ask out the woman in the cubicle across the office and whose main task is finding a photo negative so that -- gasp! -- LIFE doesn't have to use a different image for its final cover. It's all much ado about nothing in the grand scheme of things, although one could argue that by making the stakes just as mundane as Walter's daily life the film's somehow trying to be more relatable to everyday filmgoers.There are moments of emotional release provided by some of Walter's real adventures, whether it's the "Space Oddity" moment as he rushes for a helicopter ride or skateboarding through a beautiful countryside. The quiet moments between Stiller and Wiig are nice and sweet, but her character's basically an idea and not a person, with no real discernible personality outside of what Wiig brings to it.
Penn's character is the epitome of machismo and self-reliance, and the Oscar-winning actor seems ideally cast for it. It's a small role -- O'Connell is almost as much the film's MacGuffin as the photo negative Walter seeks -- and one saved until the film's homestretch, but Penn's worth the wait.
The supporting cast includes Shirley MacLaine as Walter's mom and Kathryn Hahn as his aspiring actress sister. Adam Scott's known for his obnoxious characters, but few have been as odious and grating as the soulless exec he plays here.
This film may also have the oddest product placement of any film this year, from Papa John's Pizza to eHarmony to LIFE itself and even the old Stretch Armstrong doll. It's all a bit bizarre and distracting at times.Technically, the film's a visual stunner thanks to Stuart Dryburgh's poetic cinematography. Stiller's directing style is a mishmash of Spike Jonze, Michel Gondry, Wes Anderson, and even a bit of Woody Allen. It's an admirable attempt, but one suspects that any of those aforementioned filmmakers would have had a stronger handle on the narrative's balance of genres (drama, rom com, fantasy, adventure) that Stiller attempts to blend here.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a sweet and well-meaning movie whose intent is to inspire and uplift its audience, but it approaches its message with all the subtlety of a sugar rush. It has many entertaining and endearing moments even if it never quite comes together as a fully satisfying whole. Most of its problems are on paper where no gloriously shot vista or Arcade Fire music cue can help. Still, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty's a decent escape from your daily routine. It's just not a great escape.
