“Stranger than Fiction” stars Will Ferrell as something that he’s never been before – normal. Before, he’d be silly, goofy, and completely wacky, but Ferrell proved that he can be serious in a film as well.

Directed by Marc Forster, this film begins by introducing Harold Crick, played by Will Ferrell, as a number-crazy, monotonous IRS agent. In the first part of the movie, Foster emphasized this by adding random, but quirky diagrams and measurements.

As Kay Eiffel, played by Emma Thompson narrates Crick’s life, he begins to question what is happening. This leads to Professor Jules Hilbert (Duff Hoffman), a literary expert and Ana Pascal, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, a tattooed, rebellious baker to enter his life.

The actors did an excellent job in this film, especially Hoffman. His character amused me the most during the film and his role was so convicting that it slight shrouds Ferrell’s performance.

With many mini-plots along the way and a few random characters, this movie leads to a lot of confusion until the end. However, unlike many movies with sub-plots, it concludes nicely and is quite easy to piece together. “Stranger than Fiction” is a literary-meets-movie type, and it’s probably most enjoyable for those who are literarily inclined. The difference between “Stranger than Fiction” and most movies is that this one actually tries to convey something to you. Though most people I know would go to the movies just to laugh and forget their problems, “Stranger than Fiction” tries to relieve you in a different way. It tries to show you a tired-out philosophy on life in a fresh, new way.

Although advertised as a comedy, it is a complete let-down if all you are looking for is a couple of brainless laughs, which was what I was expecting. However, the movie as a whole is a heart-warming, sentimental film. It is a bit long-drawn around the middle, but the ending concludes it all beautifully. The ending leaves you with a smile, for some it may be because that film is finally over (though, I liked it), but others will see the moral it’s trying to bring and the artful qualities hidden within the film.

If you’re looking for a sweet, quirky, and smart film, “Stranger than Fiction” is waiting for you in theaters now.

Rate: 3.5 out of 5 stars.