Stranger Than Fiction - PG-13

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Touching dramedy about living life to the fullest.

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Rating: PG-13 for some disturbing images, sexuality, brief language and nudity. Studio: Sony Pictures Directed By: Marc Forster Cast: Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal Running Time: 113 minutes Release Date: 11/09/2006 Genre: Comedy

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that plenty of kids will want to see this movie thanks to star Will Ferrell. It's not his usual silly comedy routine, though. Instead, the film explores some fairly heavy concepts about life and death. Novelist Karen Eiffel is a depressed chain-smoker, and Harold Crick (Ferrell's character) is a loner who suffers severe obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Families can talk about the meaning of life. No, really. This movie is all about living life to the fullest and not sitting carefully on the sidelines while everyone else has all the fun. On the flip side, how can you have fun and experience new things but stay safe at the same time?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Jane Boursaw

Hearing voices lately? That's nothing compared to what Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) is going through. A woman's voice is inside his head, narrating all of his thoughts and actions. Needless to say, he's alarmed.

As an IRS agent, Harold's life is ruled by numbers. He's a solitary guy whose days run from one to the other, with nothing ever amiss or out of place. In fact, when it comes to OCD tendencies, Harold could give Monk a run for his money.

But Harold's life gets turned upside down when he starts hearing the mysterious voice -- which he eventually learns belongs to Karen Eiffel (Emma Thompson), a chain-smoking author who's having trouble finishing her latest novel. It's about a guy named Harold Crick. And she can't figure out how to kill him off.

As you might imagine, Harold seeks help. A psychiatrist (Linda Hunt) thinks medication is the answer. But a literary professor (Dustin Hoffman) has other ideas. He doesn't really believe Harold, but he advises him to figure out whether he's in a comedy or a tragedy. By this point, it's looking like the latter.

Providing romantic (and somewhat unfriendly) tension is Ana Pascal (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a baker Harold's been called on to audit. She hurls insults at him, and, in short, doesn't make his job any easier. Still, love blooms in odd places, and Harold finally has something to live for.

STRANGER THAN FICTION is equal parts drama, comedy, and tragedy. It's a smart movie and a touching reminder that life is unpredictable and messy. But that's OK. We still need to live and not be afraid to experience new things. Some of the movie's best scenes are those of Harold branching out in the world.

People who enjoy this movie may also like The Truman Show, Joe Versus the Volcano, and Adaptation.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Romantic tension between Harold and Ana. Harold studies her breasts. Brief nudity (a character's butt is shown).
Violence Harold experiences some real peril dodging his imminent death (heavy equipment breaks through a wall, etc.). Ana throws things around her kitchen. Some images of animal violence in nature sequences.
Language Some name calling. "Shut up, you stupid voices!"
Message
	Social Behavior Harold learns that there's more to life than doing the same thing (alone) day after day.
	Commercialism A wristwatch figures prominently in the storyline. Also guitars.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco The novelist is a chain smoker. A psychiatrist advises Harold to use medication to quell the voices in his head.