Funny / Stranger Than Fiction

• Karen: "I don't need nicotine patches, I smoke cigarettes."
• When Harold finally convinces Dr. Hilbert to help him, Hilbert tells him to come back on Friday.
  Dr. Hilbert: Wait, you said "imminent." You could be dead by Friday. Come back tomorrow.
• Harold tries to prevent the plot from advancing by doing nothing but sitting and watching TV... so the plot bursts through his wall and eats his television! The Fourth Wall Will Not Protect You, indeed.
  • Even more hilarious, when he turns on the television, it runs a number of nature documentaries that show animals dying in horrific ways. Harold desperately wants to change the channel...but can't because he promised himself that he wouldn't do anything. Not even reaching out to the toilet room (he just urinates into a bottle).
  • Hilbert's commentary on this.
  Dr. Hilbert: Meeting an insurance agent the day your policy runs out is coincidence. Getting a letter from the emperor saying he's visiting is plot. Having your apartment eaten by a wrecking ball... is something else entirely.
• Hilbert's quiz that he gives to Harold to determine what kind of story he's in.
  Harold: What do these questions have to do with anything?
  Dr. Hilbert: Nothing. The only way to find out what story you're in is to determine what stories you're not in. Odd as it may seem, I've just ruled out half of Greek literature, seven fairy tales, ten Chinese fables, and determined conclusively that you are not King Hamlet, Scout Finch, Miss Marple, Frankenstein's monster, or a golem. Aren't you relieved to know you're not a golem?
  Harold: (slowly) Yes. I am relieved to know I am not a golem.
  Dr. Hilbert: Good. (*Beat*) Do you have magical powers?
• Karen: (narrating) "Why was Harold talking to this man?... This man was an idiot." And Harold gives a sort of half-nod as if he agrees with his narrator.
• "He was elated and surprised by his somewhat flirtatious encounter with Miss Pascal. So elated that he exited the Transit Authority Bus a good twenty-seven blocks early and would now have to walk." Cue poor Harold turning back to try and board the bus again, to no avail.
• Harold's responses to Karen's narration when he first hears them, including addressing his toothbrush as if it was the speaker.
• Harold runs into Ana on public transportation and stumbles his way through an apology to her. Karen highlights how poorly the conversation is going.
  Karen: Harold nervously made small talk.
  Harold: You have very... straight teeth.
  Karen: Very small talk.
• Penny takes Karen to a hospital emergency ward to try and inspire her on ways to kill Harold, leading to golden moments of Black Comedy as the two observe patients, discuss how they were injured, if they will survive, and if Harold could befall the same fate.
  • Karen decides this exercise isn't working because "these people aren't dead, they're just maimed." Then she approaches a nurse...
  Karen: Excuse me, where are the dying people?
  Nurse: stares
  Karen: Most of these people are sick or injured, which is great, don't get me wrong. But they're going to get better, which really doesn't help. Is there any way to see the people who aren't going to get better?
  Nurse: Excuse me?
  Karen: I'd like to see, if at all possible, the ones who aren't gonna make it. The dead for sure ones.
  Nurse: Are you... I'm sorry, you... are you suffering from anything?
  Karen: Just writer's block.
• Harold notes to his psychiatrist that his narrator is using a better vocabulary than he has. One wonders how many times he jotted down a word he heard in his head for the sole purpose of looking it up in a dictionary later, then having "Oh, that's what she was talking about!" moments.
• Why yes, these pants are lycra!