Comments on: ‘Ghost Town’ – I see annoying dead people

By: Dwight

Dwight — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:17:18 +0000

I kept seeing this role written for Steve Carrell. Carrell can play a jerk and still have a vulnerability about him. Gervais was SO unlikable I was just uncomfortable watching him.

Gervais transition from “mean” to “redeemed” came too late in the third act. When he started helping the ghosts I needed more than a two minute montage. “Naked Guy” was mined for a few laughs, but his predicament was never explained and his story was never resolved. Same with the nurse.

1 hour and 40 minute running time. I feel like a lot of this movie was left on the editing room floor.

Good movie, but clumsily directed and edited. Near miss.

By: cftoto

cftoto — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:04:19 +0000

I found Gervais’ ‘conversion’ scene pretty cheap … I think I needed more to convince me he was having a change of heart. I also found Kinnear’s character poorly developed. A well written cad would win me over …. but his character kept me rooting for Leoni’s new beau.

Found the overall presentation uneven. But again … better than any Kate Hudson romance.

By: Heidi

Heidi — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:00:41 +0000

I liked it, but I am a big fan of Ricky Garvais in the original version of “The Office.” I am also a huge fan of British comedy in general. I think Garvais is a little dry for American audiences, but personally, I think he’s hysterical. My father has a very dry sense of humor – my friends never knew when he was joking, but I always knew. You either understand this kind of humor or you don’t. I also grew up with a mother who clean teeth for a living so I “got” this movie on several levels.

Where exactly do you think the script went wrong? Do you think Koepp should have made Pincus more likable? I think the movie would have been too fuzzy wuzzy if Pincus had been written as a likable character.

By: cftoto

cftoto — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:53:45 +0000

Mike – this is definitely not a cookie cutter romantic comedy. I found it good enough that I wished it were better, though …

Thanks for checking in with your thoughts.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:50:49 +0000

My wife and I really enjoyed this film. It was enjoyable to have a film that is not the formulaic romantic comedy.

By: cftoto

cftoto — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:27:28 +0000

Critics, en masse, often fall deeply in love with an artist (U2, Bob Dylan, Woody Allen). I suspect they’re currently crushing on Gervais. You’re right — “Extras” wasn’t very funny, but it earned some rave reviews.

I don’t mind Gervais’ shtick, but I do mind his uneven body of work.

By: chase

chase — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:20:01 +0000

Gervais can be annoying, and I’m not sure he translates to American media any better than uberirritating Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) … his run in HBO’s “Extras” was less than stellar, more self aware than funny … I’m not sure American’s really have a taste for Gervais’ Brit-shtick …