Ghost Town
Review - Bobby Belt for The Mungles on Movies
Bertram (Ricky Gervais) has little tolerance for people. Especially those that like to converse. He finds pleasure in his job knowing his patients can't talk back to him, only aiding him in his pursuit of silence. After heading in for a routine colonoscopy, Bertram encounters strange things. Suddenly everyone wants to talk to him, and they all want him to do 'favors'.
Bertram returns to the hospital and is informed that he died for just under 7 minutes, only to be brought back to life at the last moment. Bertram comes to understand that those he's been conversing with are actually the dead. Frank Herlihy (Greg Kinnear) a lousy two-timing dog, is the most persistent. Bertram begrudgingly agrees to help stop Frank's widow, Gwen (TÈa Leoni) from remarrying, as long as he makes all the other ghosts leave him alone.
Ghost Town surprised me a little bit. Just from the previews alone, it seemed to thrive on toilet humor and bootleg Three Stooges slap stick. Instead, Ghost Town proved itself to be much cleverer. The jokes are funny. Funny without going too deep into the realm of raunchy; which has proven difficult for many comedies of the recent past to do.
Ricky Gervais is a star here. His talent is on full display, utilizing everything he has, from his tone of voice to his facial expressions. I'm hoping this role will launch him into American stardom because Hollywood needs more guys like Gervais.
TÈa Leoni is good, not great and likable in a more reserved role for her, but I kind of feel like Greg Kinnear was misused. He's just such an energetic actor and the times he's on screen you can just feel him wanting to break out and do more, but it's not really what he's asked to do.
Under the surface there isn't anything special about Ghost Town. Its message is one of simplicity that has been recycled about a million times over. But it ultimately succeeds because of its ability to level with the audience and let them know that they aren't trying to reinvent the wheel. They just want to make you laugh, and at the same time come out with a greater appreciation for the people around you. |
