Not every tonal shift lands perfectly. The screenplay (based on Saurabh Singh and Steve Conrad’s adaptation) sometimes flirts with sentimentality; a few beats resolve a touch too neatly. The ending’s metaphorical treasures and neatly packaged self-realization may feel pat to viewers who prefer ambiguity. But for those open to its optimism, the film’s charm is hard to resist.

When Ben Stiller’s The Secret Life of Walter Mitty hit theaters in December 2013, it was met with a curious split: critics were lukewarm, but audiences fell in love. Over the past decade, the film has grown into a cult classic—a quiet anthem for dreamers, office workers, and anyone who has ever felt trapped inside a spreadsheet.