If you want lessons on how some writers will abuse the assumption that audiences will suspend their disbelief so they can buy into your premise, none is a worst offender in recent times than this flick.

The premise is the spoiler. The writers expect a free pass from you so they can fob a story about an actual person whose life (and fate) is somehow controlled by the scribblings of an author. Many writers have had their God moments. They create, capish ? People, whole universes, logical impossibilities, etc. The idea is an extension of that, born from drunken stupors and child-like philosophizing. The premise in effect becomes their excuse NOT to explain how this is possible. They cheat !And at $11.00 a
pop that sucks.

End of rant. Peace.

I haven't seen the movie, but I can think of many great movies that are based on a premise that isn't possible. If the movie is well written, well acted, and well directed, the plausibility of the scenario shouldn't really matter. One of my favorite films in recent years is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which was based on a surreal premise, but nonetheless one of the most perfect stories I can imagine.

Also, if the premise of the film is what really turned you off, I've got to wonder why you went to see it in the first place. Surely you knew what this movie was about from the trailers.

Found the movie very good, except the a weaker than expected ending. Will Ferrell, a comedian I haven't liked, is underperforming to his way as a credible actor similar to Tom Hanks and Jim Carrey.

I liked the movie a lot. I liked the premise a lot. I think it's a clever premise; it's a solid romantic comedy, fantasy and it's got what I consider a great wrapup. Can't argue with the Spoon soundtrack or the closing credits either. Overall, I'd give it a solid B.

I liked this movie a whole lot. I thought it was very cleaver, the characters were great, and I didn't mind the ending one bit. Will Ferrell plays a great Bill Murray-esque sad sack. Plus, as Mark pointed out, the soundtrack is awesome. Most of it is Spoon's greatest hits, but it also has The Jam, and a truly sweet moment featuring Wreckless Eric's "Whole Wide World".

crazed clicked on the Metacritic forum tab. Determined to rack up more posts in Movie Tag and Song Tag, he instead found himself looking in on a thread in the Sci-Fi & Fantasy section.

Hey! How'd I get here? This isn't Movie Tag. W-who wrote them words above what I'm writing now?

He had rented 'Stranger Than Fiction' and enjoyed it immensely.

Uh yeah. It was a fantastic movie. I couldn't imagine someone controlling what I do. But who's
writing in italics above me?

Little did he know that he had nothing significant to add to the movie discussion and that this would lead to his imminent departure from the forums for the night.

That's right, nothing to add. Hey, is that the Metacritic mods breaking in on my post? Dang!

I thought the ending was good.
Spoiler: The writer was right, how could she kill someone as lovable and self-sacrificing as Will Ferrell? There were only two choices: Kill him or let him live. If you kill him, I can't imagine happen, because the movie would be depressing, which is completely opposite of the movie's main purpose. The second choice would be to let him live, and the writer did that fine in letting him get hit by the bus, but saved by his watch (which i kinda of cliche ya i agree)

I enjoyed STRANGER for what it was: a mild diversion. The 'shippy moment between Ferrell and Gyllenhall (sp?) was a nice touch. The only problem I had was that the film lacked Ferrell's manic touch that may've elevated the performance a notch.

Stranger Than Fiction appears to take its cues from a 1921 Luigi Pirandello play "Six Characters in Search of an Author." Wikipedia covers it much more comprehensively than I could here. It's described as "meta-theatre;" in that spirit I suppose Stranger Than Fiction can be labeled meta-fiction.