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So in general, Will Ferrell makes me sad to be alive, but I've heard some really good reviews of this from people I wouldn't expect to like it. I've been told: "It's not a Will Ferrell movie" Does that mean it's good? Or just good considering that Will Ferrell is in it? What did you guys think?
Posts: 368 | Registered: Dec 2005
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I really, really enjoyed it. It's clever, thoughtful, filled with delightful performances, and made me laugh a lot and cry a little. :-) I do usually like Will Farrell's silly movies, but this a complete departure from the type of character he normally plays. If this is the type of movie you usually enjoy, it shouldn't be any problem that Farrell's in it, you'll hardly notice it's him. Posts: 1681 | Registered: Jun 2004
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Also Emma Thompson's performance was possibly the best I've ever seen, and I can't wait for the DVD to come out so I can watch her scenes frame-by-frame. Posts: 1681 | Registered: Jun 2004
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I absolutely do not enjoy Will Farrell's usual performances in movies, and just the sight of him has practically ruined a couple of them (i.e. Wedding Crashers). I thought his performance in Stranger Than Fiction was perfect, and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I wouldn't change a thing.
The direction was clever and stylish. The acting was extremely good. The comedy was subdued, but clever. The story was unique and the romantic sub-plot was charming.
I actually empathized with the Will Farrell character, which was an amazing feat for a direction IMO. I highly recommend this movie.
Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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Man. I had completely written this movie off, given my incredibly intense loathing of Will Ferrell, but I think you've talked me into seeing it.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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Will Ferrell's normal audience seemed ready to riot after walking out of the late night screening I attended Friday.
I, on the other hand, loved every moment.
Best moment is when Ferrell and Thompson's characters finally meet.
He's meeting (for all intents and purposes) his god. She's filled with horror, recalling every lousy thing she's done to all her characters...
Posts: 6689 | Registered: Jan 2005
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I'll chime in with another "Highly recommended." This is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time.
Posts: 1947 | Registered: Aug 2002
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I have avoided Will Ferrall like the plague. After this film, I am a fan. His performance is sweet, touching, restrained and not at all juvenille.
Dustin Hoffman is charming; Emma Thompson is perfect. The story is charming and quirky and warm.
And the VFX is (of course) brilliant.
Posts: 11187 | Registered: Sep 2005
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I already wanted to see this film because the premise is one I always enjoy whenever I've seen it, but now I really want to see it. Time to go to the movies!
Posts: 4077 | Registered: Jun 2003
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I'm in the love Will Ferrell crowd. Maybe not unconditionally, but I think he's fantastic in certain roles. I haven't seen this yet, but I'm really looking forward to it. When I first saw the preview I thought, "it's charlie kaufman meets will ferrell...PERFECT".
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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I loved it, although I love anything Emma Thompson is in. She could read the phone book and be captivating.
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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I thought it was sweet, but too long. I feel like I should have liked it more. It had everything I normally love in a movie...
I think i'll try seeing it again in another frame of mind, and not with my father, who is an extremely unpleasant movie-seeing partner. Posts: 3516 | Registered: Sep 2002
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Whew! I am glad to know that there are so many other Will Farrel haters! I cannot stand the man. However, I'm thinking I may see this movie. I also can't stand Jim Carey (just watched Pet Detective the other day and was reminded of why) but I've been told I need to see Eternal Sunshine. Maybe one day I'll just have a "counterintuitive enjoyability" day.
Posts: 2827 | Registered: Jul 2005
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So I just saw this movie and while I'm sure I'll find something to pick apart later, I am happily basking in the afterglow.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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My DVD came in today's mail. I plan on watching it again as soon as I'm done with the two Netflix discs I have.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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I am an ardent unadmirer of Will Farrell, and Jim Carrey as well. And Will Ferrell was still a bit irritating in Stranger than Fiction (I thought). However, he was much less irritating than usual, and the rest of the movie was excellent, and I enjoyed it a lot.
(Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind didn't irritate me in the least. In fact I felt terribly fond of him because he reminded me of one of my favorite uncles. There were one or two moments when he was like his usual self, and I found it jarring, but mostly he wasn't a bit aggravating to me. Which is definitely saying something. Usually he freaks me out like whoa.)
Posts: 910 | Registered: May 2000
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First off, let me echo everyone else's praises of this movie. I thought it was phenomenal in a very subdued manner, and agree that Will Ferrell's involvement shouldn't add or detract from your desire to see it. Most reviews I've seen have mentioned that while he did a great job in the role it could have been played by any number of other actors without any problem, and I agree. See this movie.
However, I'm somewhat disturbed by this quote, and other similar comments made here:
quote:Originally posted by Hank: So in general, Will Ferrell makes me sad to be alive
I completely understand not enjoying a particular actor's work, or liking them as a person. While I've found Ferrell's work to be primarily amusing (not so much on SNL, but in movies yes) I don't find it suprising when often others don't. Similarly I don't like Jim Carrey's comedy, though I loved him in Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine. However, there is a big leap between not liking a guy's movies and being sad that you're alive because of their existance...
Was this a poor choice of words or do you all think that his comedy being somewhat popular detracts from the human race or something?
Posts: 1038 | Registered: Feb 2006
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I agree with everyone about Will Ferrell, and how he doesn't hurt this movie. I don't think he's funny, but in this movie he's the straight man, so he's OK.
Posts: 1877 | Registered: Apr 2005
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I got my DVD last night. I am not a Will Ferrell fan (you couldn't pay me to watch Anchorman) and I thought he was restrained and endearing in this film. I saw it in theatres 6 times. Great extras on the DVD.
Posts: 11187 | Registered: Sep 2005
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pH, I'm just saying that there is a big difference between "I'm not a fan of Will Ferrell" and "(he) makes me sad to be alive"
I guess part of my objection is a recent encounter with a friend who really loved Borat, trying to convince myself and my roomate that it was really good humor. The movie didn't appeal to me because that kind of caustic humor tends to make me uncomfortable for the people being targetted rather than making me laugh (also why I dont like Anger Management and Meet the Fokkers etc) while my roomate objected to some anti-semetic aspects about the movie/role. Yet our friend insisted on pushing the fact that despite our objections the movie is really good and really funny. It's just the fact that entertainment is such a subjective thing... I don't enjoy anything about Carrot Top, but it doesn't make me wish he didn't exist or anything...
I guess I'm just getting worked up over some little use of language, but I guess I'm arguing against a sentiment that isn't really there.
Posts: 1038 | Registered: Feb 2006
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Well, I guess I should add this to my Netflix queue! (I've never seen a Will Ferrell movie, mostly because his usual schtick just seems annoying, but I also liked the trailers for this one--then forgot all about it.)
Posts: 3149 | Registered: Jul 2005
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I'm surprised I am the only one who has stated that they didn't like Punch Drunk Love.
I actually thought Spanglish was a step in the right direction, (although there were one or two odd scenes in the movie.)
I just did not like Punch Drunk Love at all and for completely differences reasons then I dislike some of Sander's other movies.
The first time I saw Happy Gilmore in high school my juvenile sense of humor erupted and I must have gotten the workout equivalent of 100 sets of 80 crunches.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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quote:Most reviews I've seen have mentioned that while he did a great job in the role it could have been played by any number of other actors without any problem, and I agree.
I disagree with that, actually. IMO, Ferrell was born to play this role, and therefore I will retroactively forgive him for all the other roles he's had that I so disliked.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Right after i saw the film, I was trying to think of other actors i could see playing the Will Farrell role. I couldn't think of any. The role plays to his strengths so perfectly that i just don't see who else could have pulled it off...
Posts: 3516 | Registered: Sep 2002
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