The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

When his job along with that of his co-worker are threatened, Walter takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined.

Director:

Ben Stiller

Writers:

Steve Conrad (screenplay), Steve Conrad (screen story by)

Stars:

Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Jon Daly

5 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Stiller	...	Walter Mitty
Kristen Wiig	...	Cheryl Melhoff
Jon Daly	...	Tim Naughton (as Jonathan C. Daly)
Kathryn Hahn	...	Odessa Mitty
Terence Bernie Hines	...	Gary Mannheim
Adam Scott	...	Ted Hendricks
Paul Fitzgerald	...	Don Proctor
Grace Rex	...	Cheryl's Co-Worker
Alex Anfanger	...	Ted's Toner Box Associate
Amanda Naughton	...	Female Editor
Adrian Martinez	...	Hernando
Nolan Carley	...	Western Union Employee
Joey Slotnick	...	Retirement Home Administrator
Shirley MacLaine	...	Edna Mitty
Gary Wilmes	...	Walter's Dad

Storyline

The manager of the negative assets sector of Life magazine, Walter Mitty, has been working for sixteen years for the magazine and has a tedious life, not going anywhere but from his home to his job and vice-versa. He is an escapist, daydreaming into a world of fantasy many times a day. Walter has a crush on the recently hired Cheryl Melhoff but he is too shy to invite her on a date and he is trying to contact her via online dating. The magazine is preparing to release its last printed edition and the loathsome manager of transition Ted Hendricks is preparing an inevitable downsizing over the next few days. Walter has been the liaison between the magazine and the mysterious independent photographer Sean O'Connell who has sent to him a package of negatives and a wallet as a gift for his work. Sean also suggests to the senior management the use of negative 25 for the cover of the last edition. However, Walter cannot find the negative that is missing. Walter has no means to contact Sean ...

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Plot Keywords:

life magazine | magazine | photographer | daydream | snow leopard | 

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Taglines:

Stop dreaming. Start living.

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some crude comments, language and action violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook [Brazil] Official site [France]

Country:

USA UK Canada Australia

Language:

English Spanish Icelandic

Release Date:

25 December 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Das erstaunliche Leben des Walter Mitty

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$90,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$13,000,000 (USA) (27 December 2013)

Gross:

$58,229,120 (USA) (4 April 2014)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, TSG Entertainment, Samuel Goldwyn Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Datasat Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Local Icelandic media reported on the willingness of residents and municipalities to assist in the film production. A townhouse in Stykkishólmur, on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, in the west, was painted black. The inhabitants in Seyðisfjörður in East Iceland agreed to keep a low profile for a day.

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Goofs

When Walter shows Cheryl's son skateboard tricks in the park, Walter's briefcase moves from the right side of the park bench, where he puts it down initially, to the left side when he and Rich are in the background and Cheryl is on the phone.

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Quotes

Walter Mitty: [with Spanish accent] The ice, yes? She moves like a woman. I'm Walter. Mitty.
Cheryl: Cheryl. Melhoff. Where have you been?
Walter Mitty: Testing the limits of the human spirit.
Cheryl: I'd like to climb your hair, test that out.
Walter Mitty: Perhaps I can contact you, possibly through my poetry falcon.

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Crazy Credits

The making and authorized distribution of this film supported over 15,000 jobs and involved hundreds of thousands of work hours.

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Connections

References Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

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Soundtracks

The Wolves and the Ravens
Written by Chris Koza (as Christopher Koza)
Performed by Rogue Valley
Courtesy of In The Groove Music

User Reviews

To see the world. To find each other and to feel. That is the purpose of life.

I saw an advanced screening of "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" last night. To the right person, this movie is life-changing, life-affirming, and truly beautiful. No, the narrative isn't perfect. The script isn't perfect. There are narrative flaws and stretches of the imagination, but this movie is about stretching the imagination.

The concept - of an underachieving dreamer finally discovering the world - is something most of us can relate to. Accompanied by a truly beautiful soundtrack, Oscar-worthy camera work, and the surprisingly able acting of Ben Stiller, as well as an accompanying cast which includes Adam Scott, Kirsten Wiig and Sean Penn, among others, this is heart-warming and truly special.