For as long as I can remember, films have been able to tug on my heartstrings more than any real life scenario. Films that can not only capture the viewer’s attention, but also bring out an emotional response are films worth watching. I have always leaned more toward comedies and thrillers leaving the feel-good chick flicks to my sappy friends, but I will confess that my movie taste has evolved.
Against my will, I was forced to see The Secret Life of Walter Mitty with my parents a few weeks ago. I’m not sure if I related to Walter Mitty, or I was just entranced by the scenery, but I was hooked.
Coming from a scared, soon-to-be college graduate, Walter Mitty is the person you dread growing up to be. Working at a standstill job for 20+ years, disrespected by his peers and too afraid to stand up for himself, Walter Mitty needed a push. When he is informed that the company he has put endless hours into was closing, he had one last chance to make his career worthwhile.
Ben Stiller, who starred and directed the film, was able to capture the essence of defeat Walter feels while continuing to push his characters limits harder than before. He allows us to watch Walter ignore his insecurities and fears to be the man he has wanted to be for the past 20 years. The film takes us through his journey to find the missing picture he needs for his final project at LIFE Magazine. A man who stood in one place for so long was finally set free, with some help from his coworker crush played by Kristen Wiig.
There comes a time in everyone’s life where you feel all of your options have been exhausted. As if there is nowhere else to turn. Stiller reaches into the souls of his viewers and brings to the surface your memories of this defeat to show you that there is always an option. Walter Mitty shows the world that if you strive for something hard enough, you will reach it.
He scales the world in hopes of finding a photographer who is in the midst of traveling through Asia. Walter spares no extent to track him down, in turn, having the life he has always dreamed of. As the movie drew to a close and the final pieces fall into place, I left the theater feeling more inspired and motivated than I have in a long time. It was like reality was slapping me in the face, telling me to not take my life for granted, and to not waste a single moment, for every minute is precious.
As a graduating college student, it was a great eye opener to the life that I will soon be stepping into. No matter what career path you head down, put your all into it. There is no time in this life to wait to start living. Our time has arrived, and it’s now.
In the words of David Bowie, “Now its time to leave the capsule, if you dare.“