Reviewed by: Joe Russo (Film Critic & SoSF Contributor)
An expertly crafted romantic comedy
Russo Rating: 8/10
Some of the most memorable romantic comedies of all time involve the afterlife; take Ghost for example. Then again, other titles involving loved ones reaching back from the beyond include some of the worst, take this year’s Over Her Dead Body for example, a film so bad the cast even apologized for it. Paramount’s latest entry into the “I’m dead but still in love†genre, Ghost Town, falls somewhere in between. Taking a familiar concept and mixing it with a delightfully entertaining execution, Ghost Town makes for an enjoyable date-night comedy.
What should have been a routine surgery left grumpy dentist, Bertram Pincus (Ricky Gervais) dead on the operating table for a full seven minutes. The near death experience left Bertram with the ability to see, hear and talk to ghosts. With spirits from the afterlife following him home, begging for his help, Bertram turns to recently deceased Frank Herlihy (Greg Kinnear) for help. In return for Bertram sabotaging the remarriage of Frank’s wife (Tea Leoni), the ghost promises to make all of the specters leave the foul-mouthed Manhattanite alone.
Written and directed by Steven Spielberg’s go-to screenwriting closer, David Koepp, Ghost Town is an expertly crafted romantic comedy. Cleverly written and well shot, Koepp’s stab at a rom-com is a first class example of how to make a good, Hollywood picture. The great cast, sharing a wealth of charisma, only helps Ghost Town to rise above average romantic comedy schlock.
Released at an awkward time for a romantic comedy, right at the beginning of the fall awards season, Ghost Town underperformed at the box-office. Not surprisingly, this led to a home video release that is light on the extras. While it may not warrant a purchase right away, the fact that this entertaining picture comes home on a nearly flawless BluRay disc certainly makes it worth a rental.
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