Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) is an
average Joe New Yorker, working for Time Magazine. His life is dull, bland and
listless. He lacks the adventure and excitement that he secretly craves and
frequently day dreams, putting himself in exhilarating and romantically
fulfilling positions. As news is announced that Time Magazine is to close,
Walter is sent a roll of film from hunky adventure photographer Sean O’Connell
(Sean Penn) who asks Walter to make sure that a particular photograph of his is
considered for the final cover. The problem is that Sean’s photo never arrived
and inspired by a secret love for a new co-worker, Walter breaks free of the
shackles of everyday tedium and sets out to track down the illusive
photographer not letting oceans, mountains or implausibility stop him.
It’s no coincidence that The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
was released here in the UK
on Boxing Day, being as it is the perfect film to uplift its target audience
from their overly full, post Christmas slump. Like a bland Christmas turkey, it’s
the sort of film that comes around once a year at the festive period and even
though it isn’t as exciting as venison or lobster, you eat it because it’s the
time of year that you’re meant to. There isn’t lots of nourishment and if you’re
honest, it’s quite dry but you let it slide because there’s also cranberry
sauce on your plate. But wait a minute, there is no cranberry sauce, there’s
Ben Stiller and he’s shoving another fork full of turkey down your throat. Eat
the turkey. Eat it.
