Ghost Town

By Jenny Siddle
Sept 26, 2008

I can’t help but get a silly smirk on my face every time Ricky Gervais’ little cherub cheeks pop up on my TV screen. Few actors can pull off “endearing” immediately after addressing a shy, self-conscious coworker as “fatso,” or cracking jokes about a Cerebral Palsy sufferer for appearing drunk. Yet Gervais managed to do just that (and much more) while starring in both of his award-winning small screen babies, The Office and Extras. Now, for the first time in his career, Ricky Gervais plays a leading man on the silver screen in the movie Ghost Town, opening September 19th.

Not only does Ghost Town present a first for Gervais, but this is also director David Koepp’s first crack at a romantic comedy. While Koepp does have a few suspense/thrillers under his directorial belt (i.e. Stir of Echoes, Secret Window) he is much better known in the biz for writing some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters: Jurassic Park, Mission Impossible, Spider Man, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – and believe me, the list does go on. If Koepp and Gervais aren’t enough of a draw to get you into the theatre, toss in a dash of Greg Kinnear and Tea Leoni to spice up the mix. If there is something this film lacks, it certainly isn’t talent.

The hook of this movie is great. After unknowingly being pronounced dead for seven minutes following a routine colonoscopy, curmudgeon Bertram Pincus (Gervais) realizes that he now sees ghosts. Much like Gervais’ character Andy Millman from Extras, Bertram Pincus hates people. He ignores friendly greetings on the street, skips out on work get-togethers, and his favourite part of his job as a dentist is stuffing large cotton swabs into his patients’ mouths to prevent them from making conversation. Unfortunately for Pincus, the result of his newfound phenomenon is that people won’t leave him alone – albeit dead people.

The second that the ghosts of New York’s lifeless purgatory scene realize that a living being can both see and hear them, they hound Pincus for help in communicating with their living loved ones. The ringleader of the spirits is Frank Herlihy (kinnear), a tuxedo wearing sly-talker who died suddenly on the same day his wife, Gwen (Leoni) discovered that he had been cheating on her. Plagued by the unfinished business he has with his widow, Herlihy makes a deal with Pincus. Herlihy promises to rid Pincus’ life of pesky sprits if he agrees to help him split up Gwen and her new fiancé. Pincus see no other option but to reluctantly agree.

Pincus spends the majority of the film attempting to overcome his greatest dread – getting close to someone. After a series of humourous mis-steps, Pincus finally connects with Gwen over a common professional interest – ancient mummies (yes, she works with dead people – the irony is not lost). Predictably, and against all of his natural instinct, Pincus falls for Gwen, initiating an oddball love quadrangle between man, woman, fiancé and ghost.

Based on all the talent involved, I wanted to leave the theatre raving about this movie. However, the only word I really have to describe the flick is “cute.” Not a typical reaction to anything involving the acerbic Ricky Gervais. What’s annoying is that I can’t really put my finger on why I didn’t fall in love with the film. The acting was solid, especially watching Gervais in his element as the reigning King of comedic awkwardness. Leoni, an actress I admittedly have never really paid much attention to, was absolutely lovely as the widow searching for a second lease on love, and plays off of Gervais brilliantly.

While charming, I think the film could have used less of Greg Kinnear. Throughout the film, Pincus gets caught talking to dead people (namely Herlihy) by unsuspecting bystanders. These scenes would be a lot funnier if we experienced more of the bystanders’ POV and saw Pincus seemingly having conversations with himself, rather than us watching both Gervais and Kinnear being present on screen. I’m not sure how Kinnear would appreciate losing the face time, but it definitely would have provided a few more necessary chuckles.

This film will undoubtedly be the Fall of ’08 date movie, and in all fairness, it deserves to be. There are some definite laughs, clever quips, a surprise ending, and even few heartfelt moments of humanity by none other than the heartless Pincus himself. I can’t imagine that anyone would leave the theatre loathing this film, but unlike the instantly quotable rom-com classics like When Harry Met Sally, Pretty Woman, and The Wedding Singer, Ghost Town will ultimately prove to be forgettable.

Wide Release Date: September 19 2008
Running Time: 1 hour, 42 minutes
Director: David Koepp
Screenplay: David Koepp, John Kamps Producer: Gavin Polone
Executive Producers: Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Ezra Swerdlow
Music: Geoff Zanelli
Director of Photography: Fred Murphey
Editor: Sam Seig