The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Kylo Ren

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZZGfux58LI

Looks good.

JP Liz V1

Very good trailer plus great supporting cast in Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn, Patton Oswalt, and Shirley MacLaine

Sad Professor

Now that's how you do a trailer! Hopefully the finished film is as good.

Mickeroo

Wow was not expecting that at all. Loved the original as a kid and I thought this was going to be closer to Zoolander/Tropic Thunder but it looks like Stiller is going for something different here. Looks very promising indeed.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

it looks like an ad for a bank

FortuneChip

I know there's next to no dialogue in trailer, but I get the impression he's channeling Wes Anderson a bit.

Looks very impressive visually.

Mickeroo

FortuneChip wrote: »

I know there's next to no dialogue in trailer, but I get the impression he's channeling Wes Anderson a bit.

Yeah that was the first thing that sprang to my mind too.

bnt

Full trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HddkucqSzSM

I know we moan a lot about redundant remakes here, but I think this could be one of those rare welcome remakes. It's a story that the current generation hasn't seen, and we nowhave the technology to do it full justice. It remains to be seen whether Ben Stiller is the right pair of hands for this, but an early report is encouraging.

Sad Professor

I dunno, the film received a fairly mixed reception from critics at NYFF.

losthorizon

Seems to be a rip off of Billy Liar which was a great film. A bit dated now but still worth seeing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py4QpmmS9rY

Sad Professor

It was Billy Liar that was inspired by Mitty actually. Agreed though, excellent film.

CiDeRmAn

Wasn't Mitty a Danny Kaye feature?
Stiller ain't a patch on Danny

xtal191

Have two tickets to see this in Vue tonight at 6.30, first to pm their email can have them.

pixelburp

"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty", aka, "Carpe Dium, brought to you by eHarm0ny, Papa J0hns and Cinneb0n". Jesus. Outside of a Michael Bay movie I can't recall a recent instance of product placement so obnoxious and constant that it just broke me out of whatever spell the presentation was trying to weave. I almost hated the film for this alone.

The tale itself is very hokey and sentimental, and really the only other thing the film could have done to drive home its message more was indeed if it renamed itself to "Carpe Dium", but there's enough good-natured energy to forgive it. Just about anyway. I don't think it feels like a spoiler to say this is very definitely a film about how the real adventure is out there, and this is made clear from the outset.

Oddly though, the weakest elements are actually its key conceit - Mitty's daydreams are either utterly jarring or else plain creepy; I'm sure we're meant to find his pining for Kristen Wiig touching, but the visual flourishes chosen are pretty desperate and in one case, just plain creepy (

a Benjamin Button knock-off, complete with a wizened Mitty

). When Mitty finally decides to give life a whirl and begins chasing Sean Penn's elusive photojournalist across the world, that's when the story becomes more enjoyable and a little more interesting. Like I said, completely hokey but it skims the edge of saccharine.

As for Stiller's work behind the lens, it certainly knew how to make those foreign climbs seem suitably impressive, though the rugged beauty of Iceland is hard to cock-up. Even if they were jarring, I liked how the daydreams and reality overlapped, and generally the office-bound settings had that suitably offbeat yet drab quality that you'd expect from something trying to be ... 'indie' (for want of a better word)

The product placement though; hoo boy. There's a scene near the end,

where Mitty meets the eHarmony agent in a Cinnebon and shares some life-affirming pleasantries

, and I actually wanted to vomit. How anyone involved in the production felt comfortable with any of that is beyond me.

I'm kinda surprised this has past most people by; I guess with it being released in the holiday season not too many went to see this in the end. Had a free morning so figured on getting out of the house (dear god but the Christmas season is a fastrack to cabin fever sometimes) and giving it a whirl.

Mickeroo

pixelburp wrote: »

I'm kinda surprised this has past most people by; I guess with it being released in the holiday season not too many went to see this in the end. Had a free morning so figured on getting out of the house (dear god but the Christmas season is a fastrack to cabin fever sometimes) and giving it a whirl.

The trailer had me very excited for this but the reviews have put me off a bit. Might catch it when i return to normal after the holidays if it's still doing the rounds.

Callanutd

Saw this last night and thought it was fantastic. Empire used the word wonderful in their review and its very apt. It is one of the few films that as soon as it finished I would have happily sat through the entire movie again.
I just left the theatre feeling happy after seeing it and in my book thats a great film.

leahyl

Went to see this last night and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Great film to begin the New Year - and I love Ben Stiller so it was a winner in my book!!

smcelhinney

I. Loved. This. Film.

Penn

Really liked the film too, but agree that some of the product placement was ridiculous.

DrumSteve

I don't agree with the issues with product placement.

These are things people actually do, be it eat in Cinnebon (amazing) or go online dating at eHarmony.

I know it was a bit obvious, but I thought the eHarmony stuff actually served the story as I guess certain parts of the audience could identify with it.

pixelburp

By and large I have no issue with the use of real brands in films, and certainly wouldn't blow a gasket every time Bond shows off his new rolex; it's broadly unavoidable to a greater or lesser extent if you're setting a film in the everyday world, but if a brand is pushed to the forefront of a scene then I have a problem.

Several in Walter Mitty were framed and scripted with the specific purpose to aim a brand at the viewer; almost to the point of stopping the narrative and going "hey, these guys are great, let's eat there!". The way Ben Stiller and Patton Oswalt spoke about eHarm0ny and Cinneb0n reminded me of The Truman Show tbh - specifically the scene where Truman's manic wife just shouts out product endorsements in the middle of their kitchen to the bafflement of Jim Carry's character - when a scene reaching for legitimacy resembles a scathing parody, it's probably not a good thing.

Plus it kinda jars with your message of being a free spirit and going on a journey of self-discovery when the film is then padded with paid promotional moments. Get in touch with your passions and inner you, but hey while you're at it Papa J0hns is great (and conveniently open during a volcanic eruption to cater for those moments of personal growth )

Tobyglen

The most boring film I have seen in a while. Visually it's excellent but it's just rubbish imo, middle part of the film dragged on pointlessly. Had great potential but a major let down.

MW2FAN

It was just good:)

Patty O Furniture

pixelburp wrote: »

By and large I have no issue with the use of real brands in films, and certainly wouldn't blow a gasket every time Bond shows off his new rolex;

Didnt one product pay for the whole budget for Skyfall, i'm not complaining as i'm a bond fan, considering the production company went broke before the film started

budgemook

I really loved this film. It just pushed the right buttons for me I guess. I found some scenes so powerful that I got tingles / goosebumps.

Won't be everyone's up of tea but it certainly was mine.

candy-gal1

Went to see this today, absolutly brilliantly different and left feeling happy and kind of inspired!
Ben Stiller on a different lever/type of movie, I love all his movies, but this didnt disapoint at all, would go see again

TCDStudent1

Wasnt sure about going to see this but wasnt doing anything last night and went to see it. I absolutely loved it as well. Far beyond my expectations, such a wonderfully uplifting story.

I didn't notice the product placement during it to be honest. I didnt realise eHarmony and Cinnebon were actually real products until I came on here. And it made perfect sense to use Papa Johns. Although you prbably have a valid point. The first conversation with Tod had an interaction somewhere along the lines "Well we match people based on specific algorithms" "Yes, thats why I chose ye". So I see where you are coming from.

callaway92

As mentioned above, the product placement was an annoyance of mine too. Almost slapping you in the face with it is insulting.

Visually some of the images were brilliant but a pretty dull film otherwise.

Was this supposed to be a comedy/rom-com? I don't think I laughed once bar the drunk guy in the bar in Greenland.

Tigger

Omega will be sad to here how well their Bond pp works

zarquon

Interesting movie. A little overlong though and dragged on in places. Visuals were amazing in some places though. Was an enjoyable viewing experience apart from the cringe-worthy constant product placement which almost destroyed the movie. Subtle product placement is one thing but placing the products as central key elements to the plot and script is aweful.

Padraig Mor

I'm surprised at all the good reviews for this movie. Thought it was only just about fair myself. The original story is great, but Stiller & co have managed to suck any life out of it and replace it with a dull, bland, oh-so-predictable Hollywood 101 screenplay. And of course the product placement is horrendous. The middle section fares a bit better than the opening and closing half hours due to some great scenery, but this, together with a likeable cast, is really not enough to save the movie from a big 'meh'.

budgemook

Why does everyone care so much about the product placement? If they said Walter's first job was in Jimbo's Pizza Chain dot com would you have been happier? If so then I simply don't understand your gripe.

If anything it made it more realistic.

R P McMurphy

pixelburp wrote: »

"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty", aka, "Carpe Dium, brought to you by eHarm0ny, Papa J0hns and Cinneb0n". Jesus. Outside of a Michael Bay movie I can't recall a recent instance of product placement so obnoxious and constant that it just broke me out of whatever spell the presentation was trying to weave. I almost hated the film for this alone.

The tale itself is very hokey and sentimental, and really the only other thing the film could have done to drive home its message more was indeed if it renamed itself to "Carpe Dium", but there's enough good-natured energy to forgive it. Just about anyway. I don't think it feels like a spoiler to say this is very definitely a film about how the real adventure is out there, and this is made clear from the outset.

Oddly though, the weakest elements are actually its key conceit - Mitty's daydreams are either utterly jarring or else plain creepy; I'm sure we're meant to find his pining for Kristen Wiig touching, but the visual flourishes chosen are pretty desperate and in one case, just plain creepy (

a Benjamin Button knock-off, complete with a wizened Mitty

). When Mitty finally decides to give life a whirl and begins chasing Sean Penn's elusive photojournalist across the world, that's when the story becomes more enjoyable and a little more interesting. Like I said, completely hokey but it skims the edge of saccharine.

As for Stiller's work behind the lens, it certainly knew how to make those foreign climbs seem suitably impressive, though the rugged beauty of Iceland is hard to cock-up. Even if they were jarring, I liked how the daydreams and reality overlapped, and generally the office-bound settings had that suitably offbeat yet drab quality that you'd expect from something trying to be ... 'indie' (for want of a better word)

The product placement though; hoo boy. There's a scene near the end,

where Mitty meets the eHarmony agent in a Cinnebon and shares some life-affirming pleasantries

, and I actually wanted to vomit. How anyone involved in the production felt comfortable with any of that is beyond me.

I'm kinda surprised this has past most people by; I guess with it being released in the holiday season not too many went to see this in the end. Had a free morning so figured on getting out of the house (dear god but the Christmas season is a fastrack to cabin fever sometimes) and giving it a whirl.

I hope you never watch the internship. now that is product placement taken to a whole new stomach wrenching level. it was pretty horrible in this movie as well though

zarquon

budgemook wrote: »

Why does everyone care so much about the product placement? If they said Walter's first job was in Jimbo's Pizza Chain dot com would you have been happier? If so then I simply don't understand your gripe.

If anything it made it more realistic.

The cinnebon was a cringefeast. Prolonged close ups of the pastries and a scripted discussion between the actors about how good cinnebon is.

tunguska

12 Years a slave was sold out so went to see this instead. Not bad but it could've been so much better. It was strange in places in that the there were these awkward silences or gaps in dialogue (and I dont mean good gaps like you'd get in a kubrick or Malick film). One example was when Walter was in Iceland talking to Kirstin wigg on the phone, it was such an awkward conversation, like they both didnt know what to say. Maybe it was an editing issue but this happened a few times in the movie and I cant help but feel that was down to Ben stiller as director. Maybe in the hands of somebody else it would've flowed a lot better.
Anyway like I said, not a bad movie but could've been a lot better.

TCDStudent1

tunguska wrote: »

12 Years a slave was sold out so went to see this instead. Not bad but it could've been so much better. It was strange in places in that the there were these awkward silences or gaps in dialogue (and I dont mean good gaps like you'd get in a kubrick or Malick film). One example was when Walter was in Iceland talking to Kirstin wigg on the phone, it was such an awkward conversation, like they both didnt know what to say. Maybe it was an editing issue but this happened a few times in the movie and I cant help but feel that was down to Ben stiller as director. Maybe in the hands of somebody else it would've flowed a lot better.
Anyway like I said, not a bad movie but could've been a lot better.

Wasnt that just a big part of Walter Mitty's character? He simply didnt know what to say in certain situations. Walter Mitty was awkward socially - He was awkward with the new boss guys, he was awkward with the people in the pub in Greenland and he was initially awkward with the drunk pilot. Makes sense then that there would be awkward silences with the girl he fancies.

johnny_ultimate

Wrote up some extended thoughts on this film earlier, which I've pasted below. If anyone's wondering why people are objecting so much to the product placement, it's because, as pixelburb said, it's in such aggressive conflict with the themes and messages of the film itself - it's rare that a single problem like that can have such catastrophic effects. Anyway, I've tried expand at length on that issue below, as well as some of the film's other significant troubles:

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a film that with great regularity declares itself to be a film about escaping the drudgery of modern life and finding yourself as an individual. It's about taking risks and embracing chance. The narrative urges the audience to see the world and to not fear the unexpected. It's also about the incredible bonding power of a good Cinnabon.

Most of us are probably semi-resigned to product placement - it's been around in various guises for decades, and while it's by its nature a cynical practice (albeit with sometimes understandable economic benefits for producers in the expensive world of film production) I for one am if not happy then at least willing to simply ignore or tolerate it as long as it's unobtrusive. For the most part, it really only tends to affect films that are already in some way compromised by corporate interference anyway. Which, with an alleged budget bordering on $100 million, a big name star / director, and the participation of many major Hollywood production houses, Walter Mitty already is.

But it's still a shock to see any film engage in placement as unashamedly as Walter Mitty does. Many of its characters and narrative focuses are in some way closely related to named companies. The most obvious one is that Mitty works in the now defunct Life magazine. That is mostly acceptable: while there is still the remnants of a Life online as a subsidiary of Time, its presence is clearly intended as an insanely unsubtle metaphor about - yes - real life and creativity as opposed to purposeful corporate skullduggery. Lacking in any sort of nuance though it is, the ideas at least thematically supports the publication's persistent presence. In the hands of a more artful director than Stiller or writer than Steven Conrad, however, it would have been possible to articulate these ideas without resorting to such blatantly obvious metaphorical tactics that are so in our face they go far beyond subtext.

The other examples of product placement are much less forgivable, and ultimately utterly hypocritical. The film opens with Mitty (Stiller) browsing E-Harmony, and one of the film's 'pivotal' supporting characters turns out to be a customer service representative for said dating site (played by Patton Oswalt). The narrative role here could have been served by any generic, fictional website, and instead of lending the film some real world credibility the regular presence of a named company comes across as distracting and condescending: a thinly veiled advertisement in lieu of anything that actually serves the story. Similarly, Mitty's character has a backstory heavily involving pizza franchise Papa John's. Again, it's a horribly written piece of something the screenplay tries to justify as a deep-rooted character motivation, but can't help but feel desperately shoehorned in for reasons that couldn't be deemed artistic.

Most grievous of all, though,

is the scene where Mitty finally meets Oswalt's character in real life, having previously communicated exclusively through a series of inconveniently timed phone calls.

Where does the encounter

with this inspirational E-Harmony sage

take place? A Cinnabon (a brand which thankfully hasn't made it to this Irish isle yet). It's a ghastly scene to witness, including several pornographically framed shots of Cinnabon products and the characters merrily discussing the deliciousness of their snack (actually referred to as 'frosted heroin'). It feels genuinely uncomfortable to be marketed at so directly in the middle of a feature film, although at this late point audience members will have learned to decipher and actively reject the film's troubling product placement trend.

As you might have gathered, what's so regrettable about the film succumbing to all this is that it so aggressively conflicts with everything the film seems to be trying to preach. For a story all about shaking off conformity and doing something different, it's hypocritically attached to celebrating several faceless corporations. If there was some sort of critical eye commenting on all this placement - and if we're being generous, the story's Papa John's references are bittersweet - we might forgive it. But no: if there's a subtext here, it's well disguised, and is more likely non-existent. That inspired Wayne's World gag seems more relevant now than ever.

Even if we removed all the E-Harmony talk, this reimagining of Walter Mitty would still underwhelm. It's crowdpleasing in the most unwelcome way, with a script and direction that don't earn what it clearly thanks are massively emotional payoffs. Every dramatic beat is scored to triumphant pop or rock music that attempts to drown out the audience's critical abilities. The use of gratuitous slow motion and 'epic' traveling montages wear out their welcome fast. The core philosophical and motivational points seem to be regurgitated from a poorly translated fortune cookie note. The characters are lazily stereotypical archetypes. Kristen Wiig is charming, but severely limited as a textbook example of the Manic Pixie Dream Woman. Aren't we over that trend yet? Adam Scott, meanwhile, plays a managing director so cartoonishly evil that we do not suspect even for a second that this 'person' is anything other than a lazy writer's creation.

And Mitty himself is nothing but a barely present (admittedly on purpose) blank slate straddled with strange, unconvincing backstory. We're told, as the plot demands it, that he was once a prodigious skateboarder, but it seems as if he hasn't picked up a board in the guts of two decades - in fact, much of the film's major character conflict is based on that implication. Naturally, when the plot further demands it, he's conveniently a world-class boarder that can expertly pull off a standing kickflip or manual, and

can effortlessly and stylishly navigate his way down a several mile long Icelandic motorway on a longboard

. Who needs internal credibility when there's drama to contrive? It also doesn't help that it's not the most convincing stunt double work in the world, with the camera distractingly out of focus during one particular skating effort. But hey, at least the exotic settings are lovingly framed in 35mm (the film's sole subtext worth rejoicing is it's affection for analog photography) by cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh, and made me wonder why other, better films have so infrequently utilised the gorgeous landscapes of Greenland and Iceland, the latter of which also subs for rural Afghanistan.

There's a few scenes near the start of the film where, as in the original book and film, Mitty daydreams fantastical alternate realities. The best of which sees Stiller and Scott burst out of the office to engage in a citywide albeit heavily CGIed fantasy brawl. It's silly, but also a rare burst of energy and excitement in a film that almost always seems underwhelming and ill-crafted. For all its globetrotting, dramatic situations and emotional peaks, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a film that seems rotting and meek. Most depressingly of all, the aggressive product placement sees the film shamelessly contradict its own moral compass, committing a graphic form of artistic seppuku. It would almost be sad if it wasn't so miserable to watch.

Mickeroo

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Wrote up some extended thoughts on this film earlier, which I've pasted below. If anyone's wondering why people are objecting so much to the product placement, it's because, as pixelburb said, it's in such aggressive conflict with the themes and messages of the film itself - it's rare that a single problem like that can have such catastrophic effects. Anyway, I've tried expand at length on that issue below, as well as some of the film's other significant troubles:

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a film that with great regularity declares itself to be a film about escaping the drudgery of modern life and finding yourself as an individual. It's about taking risks and embracing chance. The narrative urges the audience to see the world and to not fear the unexpected. It's also about the incredible bonding power of a good Cinnabon.

Most of us are probably semi-resigned to product placement - it's been around in various guises for decades, and while it's by its nature a cynical practice (albeit with sometimes understandable economic benefits for producers in the expensive world of film production) I for one am if not happy then at least willing to simply ignore or tolerate it as long as it's unobtrusive. For the most part, it really only tends to affect films that are already in some way compromised by corporate interference anyway. Which, with an alleged budget bordering on $100 million, a big name star / director, and the participation of many major Hollywood production houses, Walter Mitty already is.

But it's still a shock to see any film engage in placement as unashamedly as Walter Mitty does. Many of its characters and narrative focuses are in some way closely related to named companies. The most obvious one is that Mitty works in the now defunct Life magazine. That is mostly acceptable: while there is still the remnants of a Life online as a subsidiary of Time, its presence is clearly intended as an insanely unsubtle metaphor about - yes - real life and creativity as opposed to purposeful corporate skullduggery. Lacking in any sort of nuance though it is, the ideas at least thematically supports the publication's persistent presence. In the hands of a more artful director than Stiller or writer than Steven Conrad, however, it would have been possible to articulate these ideas without resorting to such blatantly obvious metaphorical tactics that are so in our face they go far beyond subtext.

The other examples of product placement are much less forgivable, and ultimately utterly hypocritical. The film opens with Mitty (Stiller) browsing E-Harmony, and one of the film's 'pivotal' supporting characters turns out to be a customer service representative for said dating site (played by Patton Oswalt). The narrative role here could have been served by any generic, fictional website, and instead of lending the film some real world credibility the regular presence of a named company comes across as distracting and condescending: a thinly veiled advertisement in lieu of anything that actually serves the story. Similarly, Mitty's character has a backstory heavily involving pizza franchise Papa John's. Again, it's a horribly written piece of something the screenplay tries to justify as a deep-rooted character motivation, but can't help but feel desperately shoehorned in for reasons that couldn't be deemed artistic.

Most grievous of all, though,

is the scene where Mitty finally meets Oswalt's character in real life, having previously communicated exclusively through a series of inconveniently timed phone calls.

Where does the encounter

with this inspirational E-Harmony sage

take place? A Cinnabon (a brand which thankfully hasn't made it to this Irish isle yet). It's a ghastly scene to witness, including several pornographically framed shots of Cinnabon products and the characters merrily discussing the deliciousness of their snack (actually referred to as 'frosted heroin'). It feels genuinely uncomfortable to be marketed at so directly in the middle of a feature film, although at this late point audience members will have learned to decipher and actively reject the film's troubling product placement trend.

As you might have gathered, what's so regrettable about the film succumbing to all this is that it so aggressively conflicts with everything the film seems to be trying to preach. For a story all about shaking off conformity and doing something different, it's hypocritically attached to celebrating several faceless corporations. If there was some sort of critical eye commenting on all this placement - and if we're being generous, the story's Papa John's references are bittersweet - we might forgive it. But no: if there's a subtext here, it's well disguised, and is more likely non-existent. That inspired Wayne's World gag seems more relevant now than ever.

Even if we removed all the E-Harmony talk, this reimagining of Walter Mitty would still underwhelm. It's crowdpleasing in the most unwelcome way, with a script and direction that don't earn what it clearly thanks are massively emotional payoffs. Every dramatic beat is scored to triumphant pop or rock music that attempts to drown out the audience's critical abilities. The use of gratuitous slow motion and 'epic' traveling montages wear out their welcome fast. The core philosophical and motivational points seem to be regurgitated from a poorly translated fortune cookie note. The characters are lazily stereotypical archetypes. Kristen Wiig is charming, but severely limited as a textbook example of the Manic Pixie Dream Woman. Aren't we over that trend yet? Adam Scott, meanwhile, plays a managing director so cartoonishly evil that we do not suspect even for a second that this 'person' is anything other than a lazy writer's creation.

And Mitty himself is nothing but a barely present (admittedly on purpose) blank slate straddled with strange, unconvincing backstory. We're told, as the plot demands it, that he was once a prodigious skateboarder, but it seems as if he hasn't picked up a board in the guts of two decades - in fact, much of the film's major character conflict is based on that implication. Naturally, when the plot further demands it, he's conveniently a world-class boarder that can expertly pull off a standing kickflip or manual, and

can effortlessly and stylishly navigate his way down a several mile long Icelandic motorway on a longboard

. Who needs internal credibility when there's drama to contrive? It also doesn't help that it's not the most convincing stunt double work in the world, with the camera distractingly out of focus during one particular skating effort. But hey, at least the exotic settings are lovingly framed in 35mm (the film's sole subtext worth rejoicing is it's affection for analog photography) by cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh, and made me wonder why other, better films have so infrequently utilised the gorgeous landscapes of Greenland and Iceland, the latter of which also subs for rural Afghanistan.

There's a few scenes near the start of the film where, as in the original book and film, Mitty daydreams fantastical alternate realities. The best of which sees Stiller and Scott burst out of the office to engage in a citywide albeit heavily CGIed fantasy brawl. It's silly, but also a rare burst of energy and excitement in a film that almost always seems underwhelming and ill-crafted. For all its globetrotting, dramatic situations and emotional peaks, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a film that seems rotting and meek. Most depressingly of all, the aggressive product placement sees the film shamelessly contradict its own moral compass, committing a graphic form of artistic seppuku. It would almost be sad if it wasn't so miserable to watch.

I enjoyed the film as a bit of mindless fluff that was very very pretty to look at.

I have to completely agree however about the product placement, I couldn't believe what I was hearing/seeing at times. Showing company logos/having characters eat in recognisable fast food franchises I can live with but the way the constant name dropping and plugging was shoe-horned into the dialogue to the point that it felt completely unnatural and just plain jarring was ridiculous.

Tar.Aldarion

I didn't notice/care about the advertising at all, just watching the film leaving that aside and I quite enjoyed it for what it was.

darced

This post has been deleted.

Corholio

I enjoyed the movie. Enjoyed it quite a bit actually. All the product names were probably a bit much, but to be honest that didn't hit me until it was pointed out to me on this thread, does that mean I now enjoyed the movie less? Certainly not.

It felt a very isolated film and I liked that tone of it. A gripe I have is that I'd have loved to have seen Penn in it a lot more, although I know a whole premise of the film is that it'd be a journey to eventually find him. His

first meeting and subsequent dialogue with Penn is one of the best scenes in the film

tunguska

I think theres a flip side to the product placement debate. Its definitely happening a lot more in recent times but for me I dont mind so much because it gives the film an added authenticity. I mean everybody knows these brands and it comes across as fake when you see some knock off, made up brand name in a movie. In walter mitty they could've made up a dating agency or whatever it is but people know the name e-harmony. They could've made up the name of a magazine but again, people know Life and buy into that. Its like in 24 when they start making up countries because they cant say Iraq or Syria or wherever and that for me damages the credibility of the show.

johnny_ultimate

In some circumstances, yes, product placement can be even something of an enhancement. Mad Men is the perfect example - naturally that benefits from perhaps the one setting where it's completely justified, but the way the show uses real-life products is mostly an artful and intelligent of improving the storytelling. In Walter Mitty, as I said the Life placement (which isn't really a product anymore anyway, given it hass long since ceased publication) is justified on several thematic levels. Again, I did think it was indicative of the film's trend of less than subtle storytelling, but its presence is understandable.

It's the other examples that I particularly object to. This isn't nitpicking, nor something I found easily ignorable or forgivable. Several key dialogues, scenes, character traits and even plot developments are based almost entirely around promoting or referencing real life brands, to the point where it in no way feels natural or a subtle enhancement of the film's world. It felt like I was being sold a product in film on several occasions, which ripped me right out of everything else. I'm amazed people are saying they didn't notice, to be honest: being aware of the product placement is actually a pivotal part of understanding several of the film's most important dramatic beats, to the point where the film would actively stop making sense if you didn't understand the 'importance' of a Papa John's restaurant or E-Harmony. Not being concerned by it is one thing, not noticing is I would have thought nearly impossible. To me, it went so far and beyond the realms of what I'd typically deem an acceptable form of product placement, to the point when it was aggressively engrained right into the plot, that the film surrendered most of its credibility. I don't know if I've ever seen a film, outside Mac & Me, that was so blatantly compromised by marketing - although I (luckily, it seems!) haven't seen The Internship.

Outside that, I thought the film was pleasantly photographed muck, and great if others enjoyed it more than I did - I was hoping this would be a big step up in Stiller's directorial career. I don't want to imply the product placement is the only factor of the film worth mentioning or critiquing, but it is far and away the most baffling and noteworthy.

Tar.Aldarion

When I say "didn't notice" I more mean it wasn't concerning as it was immersive - nobody actually wouldn't notice Papa Johns, and agree with the poster above that when products are fake it actually annoys me more than having a real product. "didn't notice" is actually seamless product implantation and an improvement on being annoyed by some fake cola removing you from the immersion in films. The ramifications on how it affects people are certainly noteworthy but from a perspective of watching a film and being immersed it was advantageous, Life was a great choice and I agree, less controversial.

Agent Coulson

When I saw the first trailer for this I was really hopeful.

For me it was an ok movie nothing really special about, It has really some nice visuals of Walter on his trips. But I really was hoping for more from it. I really didn't connect with Ben Stillers version of Walter Mitty for me Ben Stiller really doesn't have the charm of Danny Kaye to pull off Walter Mitty.

Someone who hasn't seen Danny Kaye play Walter Mitty may have seen the movie in a different light than the one I watched as I couldn't help compare the two. Danny Kaye's version was one of my favorite movies growning up and I think still holds up today.

Outkast_IRE

Honestly didn't even notice the product placement really.

I enjoyed the film for what it is.

I thought it was easy to watch, enjoyable, feel good type movie.

It wasn't ground breaking or spectacular in any sense, but if someone wanted something easy to watch and enjoy I would recommend it.

Mickeroo

Tar.Aldarion wrote: »

When I say "didn't notice" I more mean it wasn't concerning as it was immersive - nobody actually wouldn't notice Papa Johns, and agree with the poster above that when products are fake it actually annoys me more than having a real product. "didn't notice" is actually seamless product implantation and an improvement on being annoyed by some fake cola removing you from the immersion in films. The ramifications on how it affects people are certainly noteworthy but from a perspective of watching a film and being immersed it was advantageous, Life was a great choice and I agree, less controversial.

I have no problem with real brands being used in films, i even agree it can lend authenticity to a film. It was the way characters would weirdly start talking about the brands in this movie, i've genuinely never seen anything like it before. Like when he meets Patton Oswalt in the airport and they're having a cinnabun, which is fine, but then in the middle of their conversation he more or less starts talking about cinnabun rather than talknig about something actually relevant to the film.

At the start there was also the line where they were on the phone and he mentioned e-harmony's algorithm for no apparent reason, it was like they were contractually obliged to plug something in their conversations.

As I said though, I enjoyed the film to a point but the way the product placement was handled in the dialogue just seemed very very strange to me.

candy-gal1

Seen this 5 times so far at the cinema and tbh thoroughly enjoyed it each time.
I think, imho anyway, the whole product placement thing made it very real which I think was part of the enjoyment of the movie, plus how quickly it jumped from the quiet calmness of say the very start of the movie then right into all out mad superhero style action, I think that meshed together very well and didnt look all over the place.
The soundtrack really went with it too, one of those movies that leaves you with a smile on your face and a kind of positivity.

Would happily see it again

tunguska

candy-gal1 wrote: »

Seen this 5 times so far at the cinema and tbh thoroughly enjoyed it each time.
I think, imho anyway, the whole product placement thing made it very real which I think was part of the enjoyment of the movie, plus how quickly it jumped from the quiet calmness of say the very start of the movie then right into all out mad superhero style action, I think that meshed together very well and didnt look all over the place.
The soundtrack really went with it too, one of those movies that leaves you with a smile on your face and a kind of positivity.

Would happily see it again

5 times!! You're hardcore. Seriously I have to know whats going on there, why did you go see that film 5 times?

Tar.Aldarion

Sounds like somebody got an unlimited pass.

TheIrishGrover

It was pretty good. Not the best film in the world - it had some serious structuring issues

I thought he should pretty much have stayed on the road. When he came back to NY the first time I after Iceland I thought it was another fantasy for a couple of minutes it was that jarring

. I mean it was a real Male-Mid-Life-Crisis movie. It looked amazing. The cinematography was beautiful. The acting was spot on and the writing was pretty nice. (The casting was spot on and it's hard to imagine all the other people who were once attached fitting the roles as well as this cast does) I know these are all good things but, for some reason, despite all these plusses, it never felt like it was the sum of it's parts. There was something I can't put my finger on that stopped it being a GREAT film.

A perfectly nice film that looked and sounded fantastic.

Edit: I didn't mind the product placement. I don't mind PP if it serves a purpose like, for example, Minority Report. I thought it served a purpose here

Especially the Papa Johns scene. The way I read it (Apart from the whole "him working there" thing) was that he was bummed out because here he is in this amazing place, after doing these great things, meeting these great people, FINALLY having a great adventure, and what is he doing now? Eating in Papa Johns like he was just around the corner from home. Bringing him back to mundane reality

. I could have done without the cinnebon thing but the rest I found OK.