‘Ghost Town’ offers some pleasant moments
It was only a matter of time before Hollywood studios would draft Gervais (who has watched the American version of “The Office,” which he helped to adapt for these shores, turn into a network favorite) for a starring big-screen role. “Ghost Town” may not be the type of edgy, challenging comedy one might expect from the talented Gervais, but the supernatural romp provides some pleasant moments and the 47-year-old British comic-actor makes the most of them.
It’s too bad the material lacks bite.
In the PG-13 picture, Manhattan dentist Dr. Betram Pincus (Gervais) has no time for people, whom he looks upon with disdain.
The doctor’s life takes a drastic turn while he’s undergoing a simple medical procedure that causes the patient to die for seven minutes.
Once back in the land of the living, Pincus sees dead people. They’re everywhere he looks.
He also hears them, and – to his total annoyance – they never shut up.
The souls, who haven’t passed over due to the needs of loved ones and friends, continually ask him to help them with personal matters so they can be at eternal rest.
Pincus, who makes the Grinch seem as helpful and friendly as Ty Pennington, believes in the theory that “we live alone and we stay alone.”
His I-need-no-one philosophy is shaken when the spirit of Frank Herlihy (Greg Kinnear of “As Good As It Gets”) approaches him and asks the dentist to prevent his widow, Gwen (Tea Leoni of “Fun With Dick and Jane”), from marrying a “shifty” lawyer, Richard (Billy Campbell of “The Rocketeer”).
Pincus considers the request after meeting Gwen and then being romantically attracted to her.
“Ghost Town,” directed by David Koepp, who previously helmed the supernatural thriller “Stir of Echoes,” offers a few funny moments but proves somewhat short on laughs.
A saving grace is a theme warning people to appreciate life before they die and telling them to follow their hearts even if the journey might be filled with pain.
The film is also helped by a wonderful feel-good message about the healing that results when someone – especially a curmudgeon like Gervais’ Dr. Bertram Pincus – helps other people not for cash, connections or gifts but simply because it’s the right thing to do.
FILM REVIEW
“Ghost Town”
Grade: B-
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Tea Leoni, Greg Kinnear and Billy Campbell; produced by Gavin Polone; written by David Koepp and John Kamps; directed by Koepp.
Running Time: 102 minutes.
Parental Guide: PG-13 rating (strong language, sexual humor, drug references).
The Web site: GhostTownMovie.com.