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Why I Drink, Literary Edition: Ben Stiller Remaking Walter Mitty

By Steven Lloyd Wilson | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (11)

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The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a short story, later expanded into a novel, which many of you are probably at least vaguely familiar with. It seems to be frequently read early in high school, on the same syllabus that tosses kids Romeo and Juliet and the like. It was adapted in 1947 into a film now considered to be a classic, though I can’t attest to it first hand because I’m a very naughty film writer. I could lie and say that it’s on my NetFlix queue, but really, we all know that’s nothing but “NCIS” and “Magnum PI.”

The short story is of course about a certain Walter Mitty, a sad little everyman who sustains his dreary life through constant day dreams. That’s the surface tale, the bit of humorous indulgence that makes the story palatable for barbaric thirteen year olds. He’s a pilot! He’s a pirate! He’s a robber!* But the lasting appeal of the story is in that second level, the dark and cynical level. Even in Mitty’s dreams, he never wins. No matter the magnificent life he paints for himself, it always ends in failure, just like his real life does. There’s a heartbreaking undercurrent to the story, the notion that we cannot escape who we are, even in the comforts of our fantasy.

Of course, Ben Stiller is now on board as both actor and director for a new adaptation of the story. So, this fantastic meditation on the purgatory of modern man will be reduced to a series of vignettes cut and pasted from Stiller’s catalog of indistinguishable crap. From a certain point of view, Stiller is perfect for this project, because the story maps onto the story of his career. He’s a model! He’s a security guard! His last name is Focker! No matter what the budget for his dream, he fails in the end. Ben Stiller is Walter Mitty.


* I don’t actually remember if he imagines himself in these particular roles. It’s called hyperbole. If it makes you less likely to raise shrill protests of my profound ignorance, think of this as an attempt to avoid spoiling a 70 year old story.

(source: SlashFilm)









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Comments

Coreopsis is setting in!

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at July 21, 2011 10:09 AM

Sadly, Ben Stiller has much more money from his failures than Walter Mitty ever would.

Posted by: Laura at July 21, 2011 10:24 AM

Danny Kaye did it first, and Ben Stiller isn't fit to follow in his footsteps.

Posted by: The Wanderer at July 21, 2011 10:30 AM

Billy Wilder said, "You're as good ast he best thing you've ever done."

I bet Steve Martin has that embroidered on the pillows he weeps into during his daily self-recrimination sessions.

Who is that does the Pajiba statistical analysis? Could we get an formal examination of good will created vs. goodwill subverted based on career choices cross-indexed against financial imperatives? Perhaps performed in juxtaposition with a career assessment. Are there films so execrable that one's entire career can be rendered moot? Moreover, what is the timeline of forgetfulness? Everyone makes at least one, often several, bad movies. How long does it take to forget those. How long before we forget 88 Minutes and only remember The Godfather.

I do think Stiller is a good choice for this role. I just don't think the good choice will result in a good movie.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at July 21, 2011 11:03 AM

If you watch the original movie, divorce yourself from the original story, because from what I recall, they only have a thin veneer in common.

That said, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is one of my favorite movies ever. It's silly, it's wish fulfillment, it's got Danny Kaye singing, and just leaves me feeling so damned good. It's been a perfect 'get out of a funk' movie for as long as I remember.

Posted by: Tyburn Blossom at July 21, 2011 11:33 AM

I believe his daydreams are pilot, hotshot surgeon, and assassin, in that order.

Posted by: Blake Shrapnel at July 21, 2011 11:40 AM

"I'm blasting the not-yet-made remake of a movie I've never seen."

Posted by: Huh and Double Huh at July 21, 2011 12:27 PM

"Tpokita-tpokita-tpokita..."

It's been a LONG time since I saw the Danny Kaye movie, but remember it's been on my dad's list of favorites for years.

I gotta say, I don't hate Stiller. In fact, I daresay I've liked most of what he's done (yes even "Heartbreak Kid", but have not yet seen all of "Goldberg"). Gotta say though while he kept his ego in check for "Tropic Thunder", this may be a huge ego inflatement waiting to happen.

Now here's the REAL question...how many of you older Pajibans remember the short lived Saturday morning adventures of "Waldo Kitty"? Hmm??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJjWgcIIxcs

Posted by: Green Lantern at July 21, 2011 1:37 PM

I LOVE Danny Kaye. Stiller isn't fit to sweep up the dust from his footsteps, let along follow in them. Excuse me, I need to go watch the Inspector General now.

Posted by: Anne At Large at July 21, 2011 2:21 PM

Mrs. Julien, I would love to see the good will created vs. subverted index, if it could be weighted for the fame levels of the successes and failures. For example, I had to google 88 Minutes but not the Godfather. So I won't weight an obscure failure against a famous hit. Or maybe you just need a bigger movie nerd than myself. Because 88 Minutes sounds like I'd probably hold it against him if I had any prior knowledge of its existence.

Posted by: Anne At Large at July 21, 2011 2:24 PM

NOBODY wants 88 Minutes held against them.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at July 21, 2011 3:51 PM