365 Days. 365 Films.

This film is primarily a platform for Ricky Gervais’ schtick, which often overrides moments which could have added more comedy to the scene, thankfully, unlike some other Gervais starrers, the plot is always at the forefront. Pincus (Gervais) is a dentist living in New York City who, after a colonoscopy disaster, can see dead people. Greg Kinnear’s Frank has unfinished business and after his death he goes to Pincus, asking him to stop his widow from remarrying. Predictably, when Pincus tries to intervene, he falls in love with Frank’s widow, Gwen (Tea Leoni) although no matter how predictable the film is, it’s enjoyable nonetheless.

Ghost Town is rarely laugh out loud funny but always amusing and, featuring some obvious Gervais jokes, sometimes unexpectedly morbid and taboo for Hollywood. Ricky Gervais may never win an Oscar for his acting but he is surprisingly good in this romantic role, if anything I would have expected Kinnear to play this part and for Gervais to play the ghost. If this were the case I think they could have extracted a bit more comedy from the plot.

Towards the ending the comedic element of the film grinds to a halt in favour of an uninspiring romantic climax and a cliche moral message. Nothing about the film stands out as something to remember, except perhaps the quote: ”Is there any more stupid form of precipitation than hail?” It felt as if Koepp was trying to inspire some thought in the audience which is where the film fails as it’s probably best left as a mindless commercial vehicle, having said that, the ending may have you reaching for the tissues.

The film was embarrassingly reminiscent of Ghost but accomplished more comedy yet less feeling, therefore bringing it down a level in my eyes. On the whole a little pretentious yet shallowly amusing.