Pajiba

Yay! I've been looking forward to this.

Just reading that review made me happy.

I'm a humongous Will Ferrel fan. (He makes me laugh so hard I shriek.) But I'll be the first to admit that he's made some clunkers. From the previews, I couldn't tell if this film was going to be another "Bewitched" or a continuation of the great acting exhibited in the less slapstick scenes of "Elf." (And yes, I think his acting in Elf was great. And I think there were, in fact, scenes that weren't completely slapstick.)

So thanks for this review. I now cannot wait to go see this film.

"Most of those events involve Crick's sudden fondness for Ana Pascal (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a socialist baker who is being audited for her refusal to pay the percentage of taxes she owes to the government that would go to defense and military spending."

I won't be seeing this film. There is only so much precious I can take.

Hmmm, I was considering turning my friend down for an after-work viewing of this (it's Friday and I'm tired and hungry and will have been through an hour of traffic) but I may just go. At the very least, I'll see it tomorrow. I was hoping 'Stranger than Fiction' would be good, but was prepared for disappointment.

I am so glad to hear that this movie is what I hoped it would be. Dustin, your review was beautiful. Thank you!

Oh, come on Samantha, don't you think Maggie Gylenhimtoolazytoscrollupandgetthecorrectspelling will give us some good self-aware, meta-precious?

Becca - I will forgive Maggie G. anything for her kick-ass performances in Secretary and Donnie Darko. Alas, I think precious is just precious here, my friend.

Anything with Maggie Gyllenhall gets my attention, precious or not. She pretty much elevates everything she's in - even being forced to watch something as awful as ... vomit.... Mona Lisa Smile, I still enjoyed her presence when I wasn't banging my head against the wall.

Pajiba is finished.

You guys have written more ambiguous cheese over the past six months then I could ever believe. What happened to the hatred? What happened to the cynicism? Maybe you've seen so much garbage from being reviewers that you've lost your edge, and become Middle American suckers. I'm done with your site. It sucks now. And unfortunately you guys have turned into what you originally set out to rebel against - middle of the road, sell-out, take what you can get losers.

Scathing no more.

meeloo, are you kidding me? dustin hasn't given anything a positive review for months. not that it matters - that's really not the point. there's no sense in being an outsider just for the sake of being contrary - why would they bother if they were going to pan everything no matter what? why would any of us read it? the unique thing about pajiba is that the reviews are well written AND honest.

I was so gosh-darn happy they used "That's Entertainment" I forgot I was in the process of hiding my tears from fellow movie-goers.

I just got back from seeing a matinee of stranger than fiction, and completely agree with this review. Will Ferrell's performance reminded me of Jim Carrey's in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, in that he has proven himself as a capable and convincing dramatic actor. Witty, unpretentious, sweet (yet not saccharine)...really a well-made movie all around.

This movie better fucking well be as good as you say it is, Dustin, or it'll get ugly. I can take seeing a movie I expected to be good and having it turn out bad, but the roller coaster of seeing the preview and loving the concept, then thinking about how badly they would probably execute it, and now you tell me it's incredible... another dip and I may just be thrown off this crazy roller coaster.

Personally I think that Gyllenhaal character does sound vomitously precious, but shit you have to put up with stuff like that every once in a while if you want to go to the movies at all. I hope the implication isn't that socialists are darling do-gooder pacifists though. Maybe as individuals.

Meeloo: I believe that by "scathing," the creators of this site meant to derive the meaning 'honest'. Being brutally honest is what they were going for. Well, if the honest truth is that a film is a good movie worthy of the readers` time and money, then it is the duty of the authors of Pajiba to deliver this news.

"Once Crick dismisses the idea of schizophrenia, he seeks out a literary theorist, Professor Jules Hilbert who helps Crick -- by analyzing his experiences -- to determine what kind of book he may have found himself in -- a comedy or a tragedy."

A literary theorist for that? That's overkill--a high school English teacher or English undergrad could do that. Distinguishing between comedy and tragedy, or generally "interpreting" a single book, is just literary analysis. Not that I mean to sound condescending--it's part of my own job.

_Theory_ is a whole other animal, however--a small and very brain-crunchy branch of literary scholarship. Many English profs don't even touch the stuff. Most English Lit grad students I know flee from it in tears. Please don't use the word lightly (and if the film has used it lightly, and Dustin is just reporting accurately, apologies for my big-mouthed sass.)

If there truly is a film out there self-consciously simmering with literary theory--wow. Can't wait. They're pretty few and far between.

Saw this last night. Loved it. Two words to describe it: sweet and literary. Will Farrell is amazing. I did not find it cloying or precious. Great writing and a really, really wonderful cast.

I was worried that the trailer gave away the whole plot. In fact it didn't and it just made the movie look like another gimmicky thinly-spread-high-concept comedy with an overblown cast. Oh boy what a pleasant surprise. The first paragraph of this review closed the deal for me.

Watched it tonight, great flick.

The one negative thing; I counted 5 separate instances of the microphone coming into the top of the scene. It's jarring, to say the least. And I'm not seeing things, either-- 5 times!! Anybody else notice? It happened in two indoor settings-- in the bakery, and in the hospital.

Oh well. Still worth seeing.

Becca, "meta-precious" has now become my new favorite word, and I cannot wait to use it.

The idea of Maggie self-satisfied smirk-face Gyllanhal playing a tattoo arm-cuffed (ooohh... how original and transgressive!) cupcake baker who refuses to pay taxes because she doesn't want to support the Military Industrial Complex makes me want to hurl. But I guess these things are a matter of taste.

Mark,
The boom mic dipping into the scene is the fault of the theater and the projectionist, or rather, the 16 year old who turns the projector on.

Microphones and cables are always there, you just can't see them when a movie is framed properly. I sat through 'Adaptation'and there were cables and c-stands in almost every shot of the climactic scenes. When it was over I informed the manager of the problem and got my money back.

I loveloveLOVE Emma Thompson, and I was so sad to see she'd lowered herself to the level of a Will Ferrell movie, but if this is indeed as good as this review suggests, I may have to rethink my views on Ferrell.

I love it when you get the good ones, Dustin. It's refreshing to see you like something.

SPECTACULAR FILM. Probably the best movie of any genre that I've seen in years. And I can definitely see your point about it being made for the page. In a Hollywood where scripts like "Tokyo Drift" are the norm, this screenplay is a gem, helped along by the august talents of Hoffman and Thompson, and frankly, a shockingly good performance from Ferrell. He was made for this role. Or maybe the role was made for him?

Great review Dustin. I just hope it's not another six months before I get to hear you happy.

"Dirty"; I don't believe you would think it's the projectionist's fault. I've been projecting for 6 years. Our job is to fit the whole frame into the screen, so that the film is presented as the filmmakers intended. The projectionist did not make a mistake, that's just ludicrous for you to assume so. If the director didn't want the boom mic to show up, he shouldn't have filmed it!

I feel bad for the theatre manager you got your money back from. Odds are he just didn't want to deal with your ignorance.

When this movie makes it to DVD, the mic will still be on the screen-- who are you going to blame then?

This was a very nice movie. Everything positive anybody is reading about it is very accurate. Will Ferrell does a great job and Emma Thompson does an even better one and I believe that Dustin Hoffman reprised his role as Bernard from Huckabees in this film, which is okay by me. In any case, I had two issues: 1. Queen Latifa. Her presence felt very distracting to me, I just don't think she's a very good actress. 2. The audience. There were so many teenagers trying to laugh at inappropriate parts because they were doing their best to make it A Will Ferrell Movie that I sort of couldn't get past it, but that's my problem - did anybody else have a stupid theatre audience at the showing they went to?

YES!

I loved this movie to death, and I started reading reluctantly worried that you would tear it apart, but I didn't even make it past the "fucking beautiful film" part. It is. It had the power to make me sob and laugh simultaneously. Thanks Pajiba.

Now I'll finish the rest of the review...

Last night I walked out of Borat (half-way), and walked into this one. I'm VERY glad I did so. It's a sweet movie that is intelligent in an easy-going way, which is a great package for a cheesy, but necessary reminder: live life to the fullest!

I loathe Will Ferrell. I can fell myself consciously forcing myself not to laugh, not to give him an ounce of sympathy when I see him on a screen, any screen, not that I can conceive of actually paying to see him on a big scree. With all that said, I loved this film. This review is perfectly spot on. What may be considered Ferrell faults in his past films only add to his flawless, pitch-perfect delivery of every line and facial expression. The man has talent, and he is truly above most of the crap he has done before. I do believe I will own my first Will Ferrell DVD when this finally comes out.

Oh, and as an English major, I really, truly appreciated the literary criticism.

Fantastic review- and a genuinely good movie. I'd reccomend this to anyone.

I was intrigued by the preview for this film, as the premise seems uncannily similar to that of Muriel Spark's first novel, "The Comforters." Will Ferrell's presence gave me some pause initially, but I'm glad to hear this has some substance. Thanks for the thoughtful review.

Hi this is just a little note to say how great your reviews are. I agree with what you say, although I shouldnt. Im a 16 year old Australian girl who goes to a boarding school and whose friend's favourite DVD is the American pie 4-play. Its weird how we seem to have the same tastes in movies and I love how interesting your reviews are. Thanks for making me laugh and making me see there is definitely more to movies than american pie and all the other crappy blockbusters.

i saw this movie, and i liked it. YES, the microphone in many of the scenes was distracting! i thought the four main actors wonderful: will, maggie, dustin and emma--each playing their parts with appropriate emotion and believability. but i must admit, there were more than a few times when certain aspects of the storyline just seemed lame--in that they were unbelievable, sloppy or forced. dustin hoffman's character called emma thompson's character's book the greatest novel in her career, or something like that, and when it was all said and done, i didn't find the story to be all that more substantial than a lifetime/usa network movie of the week. but "this" story (the actual movie) of what life, death, free will, love and courage means, was touching and interesting. does that make sense??

I must add, in the spirit of candor, that the last time I was hoodwinked into seeing a "literary" movie I found myself subjected to "Shakespeare in Love." It was a harrowing experience that I shan't recover from anytime soon.

went and saw it last night... loved this movie! the casting didn't send me into the jitters, as it seems to have done for so many others... emma thompson as a neurotic, hermetic writer who wouldn't give a flying flip about killing off a character who doesn't have a literary bone in his body? ahhh, that makes sense.

since when did the hollywood "hierarchy" become more important than making interesting, intelligent and creative casting choices? there isn't supposed to be a hollywood hierarchy... they are all... what was that word?

actors?

'I must add, in the spirit of candor, that the last time I was hoodwinked into seeing a "literary" movie I found myself subjected to "Shakespeare in Love." It was a harrowing experience that I shan't recover from anytime soon.'

Get in line.

Emily--

I saw it yesterday and believe, now more than ever, that Emma Thompson is the queen of the universe. She's somehow both richly profound and heartbreakingly simple in every moment. Run don't walk--

Very good review, I feel the movie was this good and the review is nice. Although a lot of people commenting are bastards.

I love any movie that has me laughing uproariously until suddenly, I find myself dissolved in tears at the very end. Add emma thompson, and the result is perfection. I am only sad to think of how long it will be until I can own the dvd.

Sorry Mark, didn't mean to offend the all powerful projectionist.
I'm only a film editor but I assure you, there's more information on a frame of film than appears on screen.

How many people saw electrical cables and c-stands in Adaptation? How many saw boom mics in Rainman? How many saw the mic 5 times in this film? Only those with amateur projectionists. That's how many.

"Ferrell haters will probably have a difficult time believing this, but he is remarkable."

I agree! While I'm not a "Ferrell hater", I'm not a terribly huge fan, but his timing and vulnerability really made this cold hearted bitch almost tear up.

It's a flat out beautiful movie, start to finish, every syllable.

Saw it on Friday... the best feel-good movie of the year. I was glowing as I left the theatre. And all of that great Chicago architecture made for an amazing backdrop to the film.

I didn't *LOVE* this movie, but it was very, very good. Better than I thought it was going to be considering the way they marketed it. But the damn boom mic was in almost every indoor shot. It was so incredibly distracting, some moments of the film were lost.

This movie actually brought a smile to my face and made me laugh. I didn't mind the $5.50 to see it and I am very glad I was able to convince my boyfriend that this movie would be a better choice than Saw III.

Oh, and I don't think I was the only one in the theater waiting for Ferrel to jump out, perhaps screaming while on fire in an elf suit. Instead I was touched by his honest attempt to play the guitar. Classy for once!

This movie actually brought a smile to my face and made me laugh. I didn't mind the $5.50 to see it and I am very glad I was able to convince my boyfriend that this movie would be a better choice than Saw III.

Oh, and I don't think I was the only one in the theater waiting for Ferrell to jump out, perhaps screaming while on fire in an elf suit. Instead I was touched by his honest attempt to play the guitar. Classy for once!

Awesome! i can't wait to see this now. I'm a fan of both will ferrell and emma thompson, so it should be a treat. Too bad about the mic... but it doesn't matter. If you guys are all right, this should be the first good movie i've seen in a while.

Am I the only person who read the first paragraph of the review expecting to scroll down to paragraph II and read, "I only wish all of this were true,"? [Curse my lack of a Strunk and White's at the office!]

As Ann posted above, "I LOATHE Will Farrell." Well, I too LOATHE Will Farrell; he simply isn't funny or witty. Apparently, he is also following in the Comedic/Hollywood career footsteps genre of comidian turn "serious actor". Following in the footsteps of Robin Williams, Jim Carey, Adam Sandler, et. al.

Consequently, for the above stated reasons but not limited soley to these reasons, I will not go see Stanger Than Fiction (SFC). The reason I won't see STF, is because this story development and plot has been already done; and IMO better presented, on a TV episode of the (New) Outer Limits show which was previously shown on HBO.

Between this movie and For Your Consideration (Christopher Guest, OMG!) that's coming out this coming Friday, I'm actually going to go to a theatre this year. Both movies look way too good to wait for the DVD release.

I didn't see any boom mics, and I think we all saw the same movie, so to me the only variables are the projectionists and the prints. Perhaps a batch of prints had an error . . .

I like Will Farrell - I own Elf and Old School - and it makes me happy to learn that he's a very good dramatic actor, too. It's a shame that some people tend to think that actors can (or perhaps should) only perform in one genre. Yes, some actors do have limited range, but clearly Will Farrell (and for the person who thought she was miscast, Emma Thompson) can pull off comedy and non-comedy quite well.

I loved this film and am looking forward to bying it when it comes out on DVD.

After seeing this wonderful film this weekend, I nervously made my way to this review - I was so happy to see that it was glowing! I love Will Ferrell, no matter how over-the-top he can be, so I knew that I'd be seeing this movie. Adding Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson just topped it off. Maggie Gyllenhaal was perfect.

This film was delicate, humorous, and deeply touching. Though a little slow at times, it never dragged. Instead, I eagerly awaited each scene. The literary allusions and originality in this film made it so very worth while. While Hollywood continues to produce mediocre remakes, this film was fresh and good. Loved it!

I read the review, went and saw the movie, and then came home and immediately looked the review up again to see if I read it wrong the first time. Honestly, it's like we saw different movies. Maggie Gyllenhall was so miscast it made my skin crawl. And Queen Latifah?

My trust in Pajiba is a little shaken.

I LOVED this movie- and i'm so glad you did too. Thanks for appreciating a subtle piece of great work.

I counted 56 times that the micraphone was in the scene! It drove me nuts and was all I could think about. I liked the film besides the poor filming, which was shoking to me!

I really liked the movie too. I had the mic in the pic too. it was very distracting.honestly thats why i came here to check out the review, to see if other people had something to say about it. now i cant wait to get the dvd so i can see if its there too.

Kitty X, I'm with you. While some of the performances may have been good and the love story was at times endearing, "fucking beautiful" seems to be a huge overstatement. This was about as literary as a high school English class. If they had even remotely attempted to address the "what is reality" conceit of the movie besides a few platitudes about the beauty of life and some blathering about free will, it may have ended up with real emotional impact. The movie never answers it's own most important questions and counts on a cute love story to be enough to tie up all the loose ends. This in addition to the fact that they have Dustin Hoffman playing a completely unrealistic "literary theorist"- as an English PhD student, I can say that there are quite a few literary theories one could apply to the ideas presented (if not addressed) by the movie. "Am I in a tragedy or a comedy" is not one of them. With another frame story, I might have bought the Will Ferrell/Maggie Gyllenhall love story, but psuedo-intellectualism is worse than over-the-top intellectualism when it's as poorly done as this.

Great movie...
I too came to the web strictly to find out what others were saying about that damn boom mic! It was so obvious I thought that it was going to be part of the movie somehow at the end... like some point about his life was " a movie" or something. Editor should be hung, but good movie otherwise.

Im almost convinced theres more to this movie i haven't figured out yet. when emma and queen are sitting outside in the rain, theres a zoomed out shot of them sitting by the river, and that boom mic is way up in the air, poking in! why would they need it up there? also, there are certain points where the camera changes to a different view where its boxed in a little, theres a blurry line across the top, and it moves differently, almost like youre watching from someone elses perspective. did anyone else notice this?

Prior to this I had avoided Will Ferrell like the plague. But the buzz for Stranger Than Fiction-cast and story- convinced me to overcome my prejudices and go see it. It is brilliant. We came out of the theater on that great high you get when the movie has surpassed expectations and then some. We were lucky to avoid the boom mic situation but did have two idiots sitting behind us trying desperately to turn it into a Will Ferrell laugh fest. I never thought I would say this but I am going to buy a Will Ferrell movie dvd when this becomes available.

Prior to this I had avoided Will Ferrell like the plague. But the buzz for Stranger Than Fiction-cast and story- convinced me to overcome my prejudices and go see it. It is brilliant. We came out of the theater on that great high you get when the movie has surpassed expectations and then some. We were lucky to avoid the boom mic situation but did have two idiots sitting behind us trying desperately to turn it into a Will Ferrell laugh fest. I never thought I would say this but I am going to buy a Will Ferrell movie dvd when this becomes available.

Sorry for the double post-first appeared not accepted. Oops. Just take it that I REALLY loved this movie.

The boom mic served a very specific effect in the movie, and it's meant to be there. Anyone familar with the theatre philosophy of Brecht has some notion of his verfremdungseffekt or alienation. It is a technique used to make people realize they are watching a piece of art and force them to consider the ideas of the piece rather than be drawn in and attached to the character emotional struggle. This seems to work very well for a piece meant to emulate a book (an art form that deals with many ideas) and also with its existential themes. However, I may be giving too much credit because I know of about 15 people who saw the movie and missed the boom mics. I think the movie was well thought out and big budget and the mics wouldn't be left in unless intended especially since my group of friends counted a lot of shots with them in it.
The thing that makes this movie so brillant is the fact that the alienation effect works so effectively. I completely did expect something so... artistic... in a film with Will Ferrel and then when it happened I was amazed at how well it did it's job and made me ponder the movie rather than be absorbed into the character's emotional struggles.

The microphones were driving me crazy. You could actually see them swinging from person to person as they spoke.

This was probably the worst movie i ever sat though in my life. BOOOOORING I want my money back!!

I too, walked out of Borat, and went to see this one later, largely based on this review.

I can't even describe how much I loved this movie. It was sweet, funny, intelligent, and just plain lovely. I also recommend seeing it with a tax attorney, because they think its awesome that finally they get some inside jokes.

This film was a mess. The boom was bouncing in and out of every indoor shot. Inexcusable in a Hollywood film today.

Will Ferrell holding himself in for two hours. And singing an earnest, tender folk song on a guitar! KILL ME NOW! Queen Latifah with nothing to do. Emma Thompson trying desperately to be a character in a movie with nothing to do but smoke and wince.

Dialogue that wanted so hard to be profound but really didn't have anything to say. They had to tell us how much of a masterpiece the book was, because it sure as hell wasn't in the prose.

So many story problems. But the big one was, "And just why did he start hearing her voice anyway?" Needed some kind of explanation.

The audience we were in had reduced by half before the film was over. People kept getting up and walking out.

I also saw the annoying microphone quite frequently, definitely many more than five times.

Regarding the comments about whether or not the projectionist was at fault, see this comment on another blog by a director.

A supposedly brilliant writer who specialises in killing of her lead characters is found fighting for inspiration. An epiphany takes place and what do we get.....hit by a bus!

Now I know that the journey to this point is supposed to deliver the profound nature of the film but like the ending it laked imagination and intelligence.

Unfortunately not stranger than fiction

The only dramatic irony here was that this got beyond first inception. Why did no one think to kill off the writer? In real life I mean. Could have saved us two hours and a few quid. Kaufman must be incensed to be even compared to this howling mess of poop.

I'm only here to make sure other people saw the boom, which I saw too. I think we can put the "it's the projectionist's fault" thoeory to rest.

A friend of mine showed me your site a few weeks ago, and, after finding the review on Children of Men to be, in short, EXACTLY how I felt about the movie, I decided to give it a test, and see what was said on this, one of my favourite movies of the year.

Needless to say, you passed. I am not someone who reads reviews, usually leaving my opinions to actually seeing the movie itself, but having found such kindred spirits here, I can happily say you have saved me more than a buck on crappy movies.

If you had told me only yesterday that I was going to watch a Will Farrell movie and that movie had a quirky gimmick and that I was not only going to love the film, but that I would be genuinely moved by it, I would have offered to sell you a bridge to a particular outer borough of my fair city. Well, color me pleasantly surprised. Just finished watching Stranger than Fiction and I was blown away. Some of that probably has to do with the very low expectations I had going in, but Dustin called it exactly right: it's a fucking beautiful film. And, oh yeah, once again I've fallen in love with Maggie Gyllenhaal. That smile should come with a warning label.

"So many story problems. But the big one was, "And just why did he start hearing her voice anyway?" Needed some kind of explanation."

Kafka, anyone? what kind of "why" questions ever get answered in real life? you just have to deal with what's at hand.

"Anyone familar with the theatre philosophy of Brecht has some notion of his verfremdungseffekt or alienation. "

maybe, but i just watched the dvd and didn't see any microphones. i 'll have to watch again, but if it was fixed before that, i doubt anyone was trying to emulate epic theater. only having the microphone serve in that role may have been too subtle. the characters would have talked to the audience or something.

all in all i liked it, but it just wasn't enough to be great. the baker character was way too obvious, and i totally thought i was watching huckabees for a minute as well.

i think the last lines by emma rescued it, though. it was the irony i didn't see coming.

I just watched this movie, and I thought it was great--certainly exceeded my expectations. Ferrell was contained, Hoffman had the sufficient ego built up to pull off his key scene towards the end, Gyllenhall was cynically sweet, and Thompson was just excellent. I don't really understand the complaint about how certain literary theories were not implemented in the film. The main point of the film was about choosing between a good life and good art (although maybe Whitman was the only one who thought we could have everything).

And I'm surprised that nobody mentioned Spoon's music sprinkled throughout the movie! I laughed when I heard "My Mathematical Mind."

I enjoyed Stranger Than Fiction quite a bit but I do consider it Charlie Kaufman/Michel Gondry "lite."

I finally saw it last night and loved it. If anyone had told me I'd cry at a Will Ferrell movie for anything other than the reason I was watching a Will Ferrell movie, I would have thought them mad. Mad!

Like some others, I was reminded of I Heart Huckabee's a few times, but I liked it much, much more. Huckabee's was a smirky, self-satisfied mess that was far too self-aware and quirky for quirky's sake. Hated it.

I hate Will Ferrell so much that I can barely look at him. But I was forced to watch this movie on a plane--not forced, but I finished thumbing through Sky Mall, was wired, and the iPod had died so...yeah forced. I loved it! I loved Will Ferrell in it. I don't like his comedy, but the guy can actually act. And I agree with every single word of this review: this film is heartfelt and true to itself. Now, when "Man of the Year" came on in-flight, I went to the bathroom and held a razor blade to my wrist for two hours.

I didn't expect to enjoy this movie, but I love it.

This movie had me up until the ending. The ending was a ridiculous cop-out. If he had actually died it might, MIGHT have been poignant, but instead they had to cheese it up for Hollywood and make it soft and sugary for the audience. It's too bad, it was a decent movie until the last ten minutes.

I'm a little late to this. But I nearly lost my shit at that scene where Harold is saying how he doesn't want to die. Midnight Cowboy didn't even faze me. Leaving Las Vegas made me think for a minute. Requiem for a Dream made me really uncomfortable. But this is the closest I have came to losing my shit with a movie sans Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Magnolia. And I initially thought the ending was a cheap cop out as well until Emma spoke the last lines. A very beautiful movie indeed.

I'm not a fan of Will Ferrell. I've been slightly scared of him ever since "Zoolander." But I will give credit where credit's due; he was wonderful in this, because he didn't overplay it. And I found him believable as a routine-bound IRS agent who lived in an apartment with all the personality of a hotel room.

Like Travis said, until Emma Thompson spoke those final lines (and it's Bavarian sugar cookies), I thought the "new ending" was a bit of a cop-out. But those last lines made it worthwhile.

Emma was terrific, fragile and prickly all at once. Queen Latifah I liked, because her character was so solid and no-nonsense, just the kind of person Karen needed in her life. Dustin Hoffman...well, I'm an English major too, and I did find some of his supposedly doctoral pronouncements a bit, well, obvious. And this is really bugging me, but isn't the doctor on "The Simpsons" named JULIUS HIBBERT?

I expected to like this at least for the concept, but I was surprised by how much I liked Will.

Just saw this on Pay per view.

Loved it. Sweet, tender moments, romantic moments (really, what woman WOULDN'T swoon at the guitar playing and his song?), but drama and comedy too.

Awesome movie, so much better than I thought it was going to be. There were moments I had to bite my lip to keep from sobbing towards the end, and a few times when I cried anyway.

Well done to all the actors involved, and an awesome script. Even the side characters had heart. I'd watch it again in a heartbeat !