Review: Ghost Town

Heavenly Creatures

I'll be completely honest that I wasn't really planning on seeing this film at all. The premise sounded like a bad television pilot and the entire movie seemed all one joke. I thought that maybe the brilliant comedian Ricky Gervais would be able to elevate it, but I wasn't betting on that notion. Then I saw Gervais at the Emmys on Sunday night, and out of a ceremony that was completely boring and self-gratifying, his quick banter with Steve Carell over the his "stolen" Emmy had me in tears all through the night. Those five minutes convinced me to eventually go see this film, and while it is not a perfect comedy, it still manages to make you laugh in enough places.

Gervais plays Bertrum Pincus, a disgruntled dentist living in New York City who has a habit of retreating from any type of social interaction. Bertram goes into the hospital for a routine colonoscopy, and upon his discharge, he begins to be approached by strangers who seem to disappear in the traffic. It is then revealed by his doctor (Kristin Wiig) that he died on the operating table for about seven minutes before he came back amongst the living. Now he has a whole team of ghost following him like the Verizon network and asking him to help with their unfinished business. Only one is tenacious enough to be granted help and that is Frank (Greg Kinnear) who believes he is still sticking around because he has to break up the new wedding of his widow (Téa Leoni) and sends Bertram to do the job who eventually falls for her.

Being an average comedy, the film follows the same basic rule of any other comedy. Gervais is obviously the main attraction, and his wit and comedic timing is spot on. Gervais has always had the ability to elevate the most mundane conversations and lamest comedies into something worthy (Stardust, Night and the Museum). In the beginning, though, it takes a while for Gervais to comfortably fit in with this character. You'll know as soon as he does because you won't stop laughing at his awkward way of handling things. Another great performer is Wiig, who has steadily built up a reputation of being a brief performer in films that manages to steal the show. A part of me doesn't want her to be in a major role that will eventually come; I want her to always remain an underrated performer. Kinnear is okay here, but the role is written for any kind likable actor who could play a borderline jerk (Kevin Spacey, George Clooney and Thomas Haden Church would have been good, even better, but more expensive substitutes). Leoni does actually tend to shine a bit in this role, but in a career plagued by films like Fun with Dick and Jane and Deep Impact, it's hard to see that as a great compliment.

Director and co-writer David Koepp has a familiarity in the sort of supernatural genre, as his film credits include the films War of the Worlds, Jurassic Park, Death Becomes Her and Stir of Echoes. He does not, however, have a lot of experience in comedy. The comedy that does work bears the sole credit of Gervais with a tiny bit of help from his co-stars. When it is relied only on Koepp, the comedic timing is poor, uneven and flat. Even his handling of the sentimental scenes with the other ghost trying to resolve their unfinished business goes mostly unfelt without the stringy score from Geoff Zanelli.

I want to make this perfectly clear: I am not saying that this film is a great comedy. In fact, it really isn't all that much a good comedy. Without Gervais, the whole thing would fall apart under Koepp's underdeveloped sense of comedy and melodrama. For all reasons, see this film for the wonderful Gervais, who provides enough laughs to keep you in the seat. *** / ****; GRADE: B

P.S. For those who need further convincing, watch this: