“Beautiful things don’t ask for attention.”
It is quite easy to live in the comfort of the “inside of the box.” I think we have all fallen victim to letting our imaginations run free while we sit back on the sidelines. It’s easy to live in a pattern—wake up, scroll, work, sleep—as we wait for “life” to send some extraordinary thing our way. However, oftentimes we find ourselves waiting and waiting for our movie moment to occur, missing what is right in front of us. But what if we finally took that leap of faith and did something we once deemed crazy? The 2013 movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, by Ben Stiller explores just this, using a creative lens to portray adventure in its truest form. Walter Mitty shows us what happens when we stop waiting and start chasing.
The story follows Walter Mitty (played by Ben Stiller), a shy and reserved photo editor for Life Magazine, who finds himself in a constant state of daydreaming. His life is isolated and routine, as he is constantly overshadowed by those around him. After the most crucial photo of his career goes missing, Walter must travel across the globe to find the photographer (played by Sean Penn), forcing himself to step out of his comfort zone in order to find this “quintessential” photo. As the adventure thickens, Walter finds that the line between his daydreams and real experiences blurs.
Finally, Walter begins to take risks. These are ridiculous, dangerous risks that one would find in a Spielberg movie. He jumps out of a helicopter and fights a shark, escapes a volcano and skateboards through the hills of Iceland. This transformation of Walter’s character doesn’t simply lie within his actions, but his mindset too. With each wild moment, Walter gains a small piece of courage, losing the self-doubt that hindered him his whole life. He speaks up against those who diminish him and depends less on the fantasies of his imagination.
Walter’s character is so lovable in his humble and quiet approach to greatness. Walter begins to walk through life noticing the beauty in simplicity, protesting the common idea of grandiose equating to importance. Being brave doesn’t mean being loud. Sometimes, the silent decisions are the most commendable.
This film is incredibly creative, sneakily thrilling and action-packed, with scenes of Walter’s monotonous everyday life. While highlighting gorgeous landscapes of open sky and vast mountains, Walter’s character opens up. These landscapes reflect his character development, utilizing a unique tool to emphasize the importance of the outdoors in life’s purpose. Along the way, Walter meets people from different cultures and countries, using their knowledge as new clues to find the photographer. These interactions have a light, yet meaningful tone, making this movie an enjoyable and memorable watch. The music is emotional and inspirational, using David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” as a major theme of Walter’s unique persona and tendency to be a “space cadet.” All of these aspects work to create a touching and daring film about the ABC’s: adventure, bravery and creativity.
Upon watching this movie for the first time, I felt incredibly inspired to go out and do. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty implores its viewers to dream big and turn those dreams into a reality. Is there a country you have always wanted to travel to? Find a way to get there. What about a person you have always had feelings for, but never had the courage to express how you feel? Tell them and tell them wholeheartedly. It’s time to stop letting the fear of public perception bring us down, and instead live freely without hesitation. In the end, we won’t remember the moments we spent daydreaming, but the moments we lived wide awake.
