We tend to underestimate people.
It did happen to me several times. A friend or acquaintance
would introduce someone who seemed more like an ordinary girl or guy with a
somewhat monotonous, homey lifestyle but then suddenly turns out to have even
way cooler, more extraordinary life experiences: a computer technician/weekend
backpacker, a staff at some BPO human resource office/prolific writer and avid
jogging junkie, an accountant who has climbed more mountains in the Philippines
than I am, a teacher at a Catholic school with an admirable track record of
serving kids with special needs.
This is the premise I saw in Ben Stiller’s latest comedy “The
Secret of Life of Walter Mitty”. Stiller produces, directs, and stars in the
film (based on James Thurber’s 1939 short story of the same name) as Walter
Mitty, an unassuming employee at the negative assets department of Life
magazine. He has a habit of zoning out and daydreaming of adventures he never
had the chance to take, which usually involves his secret office crush, Cheryl
Melhoff (played by the lovely, quirky Kristin Wiig).
Soon, news breaks out that Life is transitioning from print
to online and will be retrenching some employees as part of corporate
restructuring led by the unsavory transition manager Ted Hendricks (played by Parks and Recreation’s Adam Scott).
Walter receives a wallet as a gift from renowned photographer and regular
contributor Sean O’Connell (played by Sean Penn) containing a series of
negatives for his masterpiece “The Quintessence of Life” which the he suggested
as the feature for Life’s last print issue. When Walter examines the negative
roll, he realizes that the last negative is missing.
With pressure mounting from Hendricks and advice from Cheryl,
Walter is convinced he must find Sean using the other negatives as clues. This
leads him to embark on a sudden adventure that would take him to a helicopter
ride in Greenland, an up close view of the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull volcano in
Iceland, and a trek on the Himalayas mountains in ungoverned Afghanistan where
he finally finds Sean. Walter’s epic adventures, combined with an enthusiastic
soundtrack from Theodore Shapiro and Jose Gonzales, could pass for an extended
cut for a GoPro commercial. The movie’s hilarious plot twists, coupled with compelling
screen performances from Stiller, Penn, and Scott, saves it from the
predictable unassuming-guy-gets-the-cool-quirky-girl melodrama and noticeable array
of product placements.
One would initially think that this movie is about a guy,
who, out of boredom for the monotony of his reality, finds escape through his
overactive imagination. The secret here isn't Walter’s fantasies but his
realities. He unlocks opportunities for experiences even greater than he
imagined by conquering his fears and circumstances. It is a reminder for all us
that we can become more than what we imagine if we turn our visions into
reality. That each of us can become our own Walters.
Hence, whether you’re working the dishes at your local fast
food joint or receiving long distance calls from insurance subscribers at
midnight, these are no alibis for not living the life you imagined. Because I
do know a number of real life Walter Mittys who despite their circumstances
have been to places and experiences you can only dream about.
When you've reached this point in this review, grab a pen and a Post
It, look at your desk calendar, and start listing and scheduling adventures you've
only fantasized having, because you, my friend, are going places! TSS
“To see the world, things
dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and
to feel. That is the purpose of life.” - Walter Mitty
No comments:
Post a Comment