Ghost Town (2008)
a review by Evan Landon
I am not sure how to approach this one because it could possibly be the first romcom I have ever reviewed, but I am always up for new things. Let's just say that I watched this one on accident, thinking I was recording Ghost World which is a completely different film that I should probably do after this one.
Anyways, this movie perked my interest as soon as I saw Ricky Gervais was in it, who I absolutely adore. Even if you have not watched any of his comedy specials, I am absolutely certain you heard of The Office which he created and starred Britain (then America made their own version) or his multiple award show appearances as a host where he rips in to the very stars they are celebrating. His comedy is pure genius and I love it.
This was a little strange for me because I am almost certain I have never seen him in any movie, much less the lead. I could be wrong, but I don't care enough to look that up. You can if you want.
I sounds even weirder that he chose a romantic comedy (of sorts) to be his vehicle. I say “of sorts” because it does carry a lot of darker, philosophical themes that you do not usually find in your rando rom com. Death, dentistry, the afterlife, self-realization, and redemption are at the forefront of this tale that is very spiritual in a way that is surprising, given the topics that Gervais usually brings up. That could be via the co-writer/director David Koepp, who wrote Jurassic Park, Carlito's Way, and Spider-Man to name a few, but also directed Mortdecai, Secret Window, and Stir Of Echoes to which I really liked. Gervais would have never signed up for it unless it was worthy of his time though and he turns in a stellar performance.
Ricky Gervais plays a man named “Bertram Pincus” who is an angry, bitter man who goes in for a routine colonoscopy that goes hideously wrong when he takes the anesthesia not usually given during such a procedure. Unfortunately, he finds out later that he had passed away for seven minutes because of the anesthesia, which in turn gives him the ability to see ghosts. One of the ghosts, played by Greg Kinnear, tells Pincus that he can keep all the other ghosts away if he breaks up an engagement between his widow and a human-rights lawyer who we discover is not such a bad guy. What ensues is Pincus learning to become a better person through the trials and tribulations between himself, the ghosts, and the task at hand, all while falling for the widow he is supposed to be breaking up.
Sure, that last part is definitely cheesy af, but its sincerity, stoicism, and introspection sets apart from the usual drab motif that is usually paraded around in movies of this genre.
I enjoyed this a lot, but audiences were kind of mid on it – it made $27 million against a $20 million budget that had a worldwide release, so you could say it was a bomb, unfortunately. If you like romcoms and are a deep thinker, this movie might be just right for you.
3 out of 5