I finally got around to seeing Stranger Than Fiction, a tad bit later than I had hoped. But better late than never! From the trailer, I thought it looked to be an unusual but original comedy.

Little did he know, this movie is a drama, romantic comedy and suspense film too.

Will Ferrell plays Harold Crick, a man who begins to hear a voice in his head accurately describing his every move. He soon realizes that the voice is a narrator, played by Emma Thompson, and he is the character in a novel she is writing. Then the voice tells him he's going to die. Based on the trailer, I thought this was, basically, an Emma Thompson movie starring Will Ferrell in a small supporting role.

Little did he know, this is a Will Ferrell movie through and through.

Like most of America, I think Will Ferrell is hillarious. I loved him on Saturday Night Live and in Anchorman and other films. But this ain't no Old School or Elf. In Stranger Than Fiction, Ferrell delivers a "straight man" comedic performance that would make Bud Abbott proud, while also shining with moments of anger, embarrassment, hope, heartache and pure sorrow.

A lot of my fellow moviegoers seemed to agree. I heard more than a few remark as they were walking out that they expected something a little zanier, or perhaps a little raunchier. What I didn't hear was anyone who said they were disappointed.

Little did he know, Will Ferrell may be as great a dramatic actor as he is a comedian.

Actually, Fiction isn't Ferrell's first attempt at drama. Melinda and Melinda (2004) and Winter Passing (2005) are a couple of Ferrell dramas that seem to have hit video store shelves all too quietly.

Little did he know, they would be the next movies he would rent.

Ferrell once remarked he would rather do comedy than drama. "In my view, comedy wins out in the long run," he said. "I'm not sure I'm a good enough actor to play real tragedy."

I beg to differ, Will. Don't abandon comedy by any means. You're brilliant. But please, give us more films like Stranger Than Fiction when you can.

Ethan Morris: "Not always right, but never in doubt." Go ahead and write me.

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