Ghost TownDirected by: David Koepp Cast: Ricky Gervais, Greg Kinnear, Téa Leoni Time: 1 hr 40 mins Rating: PG-13
Plot: Bertram Pincus is a dentist (Gervais) who would rather be left alone. After a near-death experience, he can see dead people in New York City. He is stuck helping the very dead Frank (Kinnear) attempt to separate his widowed wife (Leoni) with her new fiance (Billy Campbell).
Who’s It For? This is a light comedy with not enough of anything to fall in love with or hate. It's the perfect no-brain renter if you can appreciate the snarky humor coming from Gervais.
Expectations: I like all three of the leads here so I was willing, but they are in the hands the screenwriter behind Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in Koepp (director of Secret Window) and this was his first attempt at directing a comedy.
SCORECARD (1-10)
Actors: Ricky Gervais as Bertram Pincus: This is more than miscasting. Gervais is amazing at self-deprecating humor, but not so much when it comes to making fun of others and that's what he spends the whole movie (until the final 10 minutes or so) doing. When he's commenting on a mummy or a dog or the system of health care it's much better than just disliking an older (dead) woman. Score: 4
Greg Kinnear as Frank: He's saddled with lines like calling Pincus "Pink-ass," and he's just no where to be seen at random times. Kinnear didn't have much to work with. So here's a better tangent. Kinnear HAS to play Johnny Carson is a big-screen film, right? It's a no-brainer. Seeing him walk around this film in a tuxedo made me think of it even more. And I've decided the film can't be called "Here's Johnny" or "Johnny," that would make me cringe. Instead it could simply be called "Tonight." And yes, if you are a Hollywood big-wig, I will write the film for you, just give me a ring. Score: 4
Téa Leoni as Gwen: Really? Gwen could go for a guy like Bertram? Not buying it for one second. Again, not her fault, just feels like she's wasted as well. Score: 5
Talking: We do learn a little something, like the penis and heart are wrapped together and mummified in a jar instead of wrapped with the rest of the mummy. So I guess that's something. Otherwise it's just tiny one-liners of Bertram complaining about someone. Score: 4
Sights & Sounds: With songs like "What I'm Looking For" by Brendan Benson, the soundtrack is the best part of the film. And New York City comes alive here better than Jon Avnet was able to do with Righteous Kill. It's hard not to spot little errors like Ghost Town should have had the ghosts be stuck in the area they died in, that would have been a good enough reason for Frank not to stalk Richard (Campbell) or always be following Bertram. And if they walk through walls, how come they can lean against things? Score: 5
OVERALL It started off so well, but then just like a ghost, everything good disappeared. Actually, that's a terrible analogy. The film just didn't follow quality logic. It should have been a comedic version of "Quantum Leap." Here's some of the logic the film creates ... There are ghosts, and if you walk through them, you sneeze, if you save their soul, lights shine. They can also walk through walls. Frank disappears and reappears anywhere he wants, yet it seems like all the other ghosts have to walk. Ghost Town had two great options to choose from ... One, it could have been a different angle of "Cyrano de Bergerac" or Roxanne and have Franks' ghost school Bertram in the art of seducing women. Or two, the film could have been about a guy who hates people but slowly saves ghosts. Instead we get a boring, unbelievable potential romance between Gervais and Leoni. Score: 4/10