Ghost Town Review - Written by Freelance

DIRECTOR- David Koepp
CAST- Greg Kinnear, Téa Leoni, and Ricky Gervais.
MPAA- PG-13

Freelance Rating: *** out of *****


“Are you having a laugh?” English comedic actor, Ricky Gervais stars in his first movie leading role, Ghost Town. Followers of his television success, with the BBC’s The Office and Extras have already taken note to his small appearances in other films. I had a certain anticipation to see this film. Mainly, for the fact that I greatly admire Gervais’ humor. Unfortunately, I was also greatly anticipating the film was going to fall under the romantic comedy genre simplicity.

The movie follows the adamantly annoyed dentist, Bertram Pincus (Ricky Gervais), who cleans the teeth of his overly chatty patients. After a routine colonoscopy, Bertram was confirmed dead for seven minutes. He was not aware of this by his doctor until after he was greeted with a herd of wandering spirits. Bertram can apparently see and hear the apparitions while still interacting with the everyday folk. The ghosts come from all points of life, and some have lived decades just wandering around looking to complete their unfinished business. Bertram is now not only annoyed by the living with their loquacious personalities, but also the dead and their undying request for assistances. In particular Frank (Greg Kinnear), who has recently lost his life and left his wife, Gwen (Téa Leoni) a widow. She is in the middle of an engagement with a guy who is greedy, self-absorbed, and obnoxiously pompous, according to Frank. He is asking Bertram to help him crush this looming marriage from happening; in return he will stop the ghost from pestering him. The only problem for Bertram is getting over his annoyance with platitudinous human conversation.

I have always had the general perception that romantic comedy died in the eighties with John Hughes’ films. Although the majority of them exemplified the teenage angst that later developed into the Gen X cult followings of the Nineties (ie. Slacker, Singles). There are a few blips on the monitor here and there, but nothing to really restore my faith in the genre. Ghost Town isn’t great but it’s worth your buck in comedy delivered by Ricky Gervais.

The story is somewhat weak and seems to have a played out development of past films of the same sort, such as Heart and Souls, Just Like Heaven, and All of Me. Strangely enough those are all titles to songs. Go figure! I would deem the film’s lack of interest due to director/writer, David Koepp. This is the same creative mind that gave us the crappy “aliens-behind-the-whole-thing” Indy 4 screenplay. Sorry, if I completely spoiled that film for you.

For the most part I enjoyed the cast of the film. Téa Leoni is such a delight to see. She‘s been around for awhile, yet I see her name loom over less movies than that girl in most current Woody Allen films. Because I know there is a good chance more than one person won’t follow my humor on that last statement… I know it’s Scarlett Johansson! Greg Kinnear, who is someone I find oddly miscast in a lot of films. I know someone is going to say, “That’s bullshit, he was great in Little Miss Sunshine.” Which, I guess may misrepresent my point? Until you realize he was in Stuck on You, Invincible, and Feast of Love. Overall Kinnear’s character as Frank seems so flat and poorly developed, that his charismatic portrayal feels forced and annoying. The ghost sighting in the old haunted mill that will be having you whole heartily saying, “The movie is pretty funny,” is Ricky Gervais. His dry wit and sharp attitude will have you interchange from a mute chuckle to a ghastly cackle in minutes. I am quite sure if you were fond of David Brent’s unforgivable antics and Andy Milmen’s uncomfortable moments, you will appreciate Bertram Pincus.

Nonetheless, the movie is very standard, though it is a forceful ’must watch’ for all Gervais fans. Ultimately, unless you find Dane Cook absolutely hilarious, Ghost Town is one of the better romantic comedies in theaters now.