Yesterday my family and I saw The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. The children wanted to see a movie as a family and this choice pleased the majority. I was quietly reluctant. I've read and taught the original short story in the past and I'm not a big Ben Stiller fan. I enjoyed the James Thurber TV program as a child. I was looking forward to a nice time with my family.
What I received instead was a thoroughly enjoyable movie to go with wonderful family. I don't remember the short story, or the Danny Kaye movie much, but this version followed the spirit of the story. It was updated into the cannibalistic corporate world and modernized without losing the fun quirkiness of Thurber. Ben Stiller hit the mark as the strange Walter Mitty, a touch of Everyman with the self doubt of present day man.
I don't go to the theater much and usually choose a movie that will be made better on the big screen. I had been voting for Lone Survivor, thinking the Afghan scenery would be better seen large. I figured that Walter Mitty could be seen on video at home and I would be fine. Wrong. This is a large screen movie with vistas and close up facial expressions that were better in the theater. I highly recommend this film.
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