“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” is a disappointing remake of 1947 classic that featured Danny Kaye in the title role. The original succeeded because the picture was tailor-made for the talents of Kaye, and concentrated on the fantasies imagined by Mitty. The 2013 redux failed because it tried to be too many things at once: A look at Mitty’s fantasy lives, a romantic comedy film, an action-adventure picture. Bad screenplay by Steve Conrad.
Director Ben Stiller (“Tropic Thunder” 2008) was evidently too busy directing himself and others to notice. He seemed to rush though his performance. Ditto for Kristen Wiig, Shirley MacLaine, Sean Penn, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn, Patton Oswalt, and even for Conan O’Brien and Andy Richter appearing as themselves.
This was the last film produced by Samuel Goldwyn Jr., whose career began in Hollywood of 1948. He passed away in January of 2015. His father was Samuel Goldwyn, the producer of the original “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.” This film was modestly successful at the box office for Samuel Goldwyn Films, New Line Cinema, Red Hour Productions, TSG Entertainment, Ingenious Media, and 20th Century Fox.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
cinema
My Review
“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” is a disappointing remake of 1947 classic that featured Danny Kaye in the title role. The original succeeded because the picture was tailor-made for the talents of Kaye, and concentrated on the fantasies imagined by Mitty. The 2013 redux failed because it tried to be too many things at once: A look at Mitty’s fantasy lives, a romantic comedy film, an action-adventure picture. Bad screenplay by Steve Conrad.
Director Ben Stiller (“Tropic Thunder” 2008) was evidently too busy directing himself and others to notice. He seemed to rush though his performance. Ditto for Kristen Wiig, Shirley MacLaine, Sean Penn, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn, Patton Oswalt, and even for Conan O’Brien and Andy Richter appearing as themselves.
This was the last film produced by Samuel Goldwyn Jr., whose career began in Hollywood of 1948. He passed away in January of 2015. His father was Samuel Goldwyn, the producer of the original “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.” This film was modestly successful at the box office for Samuel Goldwyn Films, New Line Cinema, Red Hour Productions, TSG Entertainment, Ingenious Media, and 20th Century Fox.