We Have a Ghost
I had intended to see a film in town but injury kept me couch bound, so I found a nice, inoffensive comedy streaming in my living room instead. This one has a lot of familiar faces, which is great when you’re looking for inoffensive, and some great sets. I apologize for the spate of Netflix films, I know a lot of people don’t have that service.
A nice Victorian style home in a quiet neighborhood erupts in screams and people running frantically for the car in the first moments of the film. It points up one of the strengths of the film. Sure, there’s too much exposition, but the writers are also adept at showing not telling and this is a great opening scene. Next, one year later, we see the same place in the daylight, looking unkempt and shaggy. A car pulls up and a good looking family goes in, except for the younger teenage son. He’s at that surly, say mean things to people and act surprised when their feelings are hurt stage of life. He doesn’t want to go in to the house his parents just spent their last money on, but go in he must and he makes his way up to the huge, dusty attic and looks around, bored and surly. Suddenly, a person emerges from a wall and yells at him in a ghostly manner, waving his hands around and making mean faces. The son’s face screws up until he can’t contain his laughter while filming the ghost on his phone. Before you can say tiktok viral, everyone knows about the ghost and the house is surrounded by hordes of look-y-loos. Hijinks ensue.
I watched this because the trailer made it look like a somewhat funny movie, and in a shocking development, it actually is a somewhat funny movie. There are a lot of recognizable faces, like the dad (Anthony Mackie, Captain America: Brave New World), Ernest the ghost (David Harbour, Stranger Things, Thunderbolts*), the over the top famous medium (Jennifer Coolidge, White Lotus, A Minecraft Movie), mom (Erika Ash, Scary Movie 5), and misguided CIA operative (Tig Notaro, Star Trek: Discovery, Army of the Dead). I wanted to mention the actors because that’s probably the strongest part of the film. Everyone does a great job, including surly teenager (Jahi Di’Allow Winston, The Dead Don’t Die) and the supportive girl (Isabella Russo, Avatar: The Last Airbender).
The plot doesn’t do anything surprising and doesn’t reach for some auteurish gotcha moment. It’s supposed to be a comedy and there are a lot of humorous moments. I think I laughed out loud once, but mostly it was worn old comedy beats and routines in a safe, nice setting. The family is nice, the house is nice, the ghost is nice, even the hordes standing on their uncut lawn are nice. The teen romance is sweet, and even the physical hijinks are sorta funny and not tense at all. There are a number of musical mentions of nice old songs, but the score is pretty unremarkable.
The one really funny scene, for me at least, was the montage of tiktok reactions to the ghost. It was rapid fire, super realistic and very clever. Otherwise, this is an unassuming, fun, movie that is (yeah I’m going to say it again) nice. The filmmaker doesn’t want to hurt you, challenge you, traumatize you. I liked that. I’m not unhappy I saw it and no I don’t need to see it again. Have fun with it, especially if you have a kid who can take a ghost trying hard to scare but just not quite getting there (except for one moment when he loses his temper).
Triggers: a ghost who has one actually gross moment
Available: Netflix only
LINKS:
CFR: In Addition
I remember watching this the first week it came out. I thought it was cute and fun. Plus it had Anthony Mackie, aka Captain Ameria, I just had to see it.
I enjoyed it. A fun C rated movie that goes great with popcorn (unless you have a corn allergy – yes I am raising my hand) and your favorite spot on your couch. It was fun. Go watch it.
