This is actually a very nice romantic comedy, with a slightly cerebral metafictional edge added by the interludes with Emma Thompson.
I was surprised by how endearing Ferrell made Harold Crick. Shy, withdrawn, mechanical...yet in his own way sweet.
In fact, the only performance that disappointed me was Dustin Hoffman. He never really seemed to be in character...or in the movie, for that matter. Even Queen Latifah in her very minor role felt more involved in the story than he did.