The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
2013 · Directed by Ben Stiller
Original language: English
- adventure
- comedy
- drama
- fantasy
The story
A timid magazine photo manager who lives life vicariously through daydreams embarks on a true-life adventure when a negative goes missing.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated travel-magazine color set against drab office greys, with the camera settling into wide, sweeping landscapes of Iceland, the Himalayas and Greenland that feel vast and quiet next to the cramped cubicles of the life Walter returns to. Its daydream sequences lean into glossy, slightly exaggerated spectacle (skateboarding down a city street, a sudden helicopter ride, a dramatic wave of cinematic lighting) before the film cuts back to fluorescent offices and ordinary rooms. The score is warm and orchestral with a pop-folk lift, and the pacing is easy and episodic, opening up as the journey unfolds. Its vibe is hopeful, bittersweet and gently funny, with an undercurrent of quiet longing. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a comfort rewatch, or a long-haul flight. Its intensity is mild: some peril, a brief shark scare and a few rough moments, but no real gore and no sexual content. It fits people who want an uplifting, feel-good story about stepping out of a rut, with a sincere, low-key emotional payoff.
More films like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved The Secret Life of Walter Mittyand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
