The comedy of Ricky Gervais can be very divisive. Like fellow Brit comedians the Mighty Boosh, Gervais' humor garners die-hard fans and venom-filled critics in equal measure. But even if a small percentage are put off going to see Ghost Town, just because of its leading man, rest assured in the knowledge they're missing a treat.
Ghost Town - A Good Old Fashioned Classic Comedy
Ghost Town is a very, very funny film with a universal appeal. Deft humor and wit shine through at every opportunity thanks to a great script and a superb cast. Even Gervais haters should be able to find something to smile about.
The simple premise of Ghost Town is a comedy twist on the Sixth Sense. Grumpy dentist Bertram Pincus (Gervais) accidentally dies for seven minutes during a routine operation. Once revived he is left with the unique gift of being able to see and talk to ghosts. Unfortunately, Pincus' gift is not welcomed by him. In fact, with a Manhattan bursting at the seams with ghosts, it is very much unwanted. He has enough trouble conversing with the living, let alone the dead he now sees haunting every corner. Hence the tag-line “He sees dead people... and they annoy him ”.
Writer/Director David Koepp Creates a Comedy Gem with Gervais
Ghost Town is David Koepp's first film as a director since 2004's dismal Secret Window, although he has been hard at work penning screenplays for blockbusters such as War of the Worlds and Indianna Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. For the Ghost Town screenplay, he teamed up with long time collaborator John Kamps, and together they have produced a sparkling gem of a movie. Whereas Secret Window had the gorgeously disheveled figure of one Johnny Depp to distract from a plot wholly devoid of suspense, Ghost Town has no such eye candy. It relies squarely on its character driven humor. Dr Pincus is a horrible man, with no people skills whatsoever. That he can slowly turn the page from despicable and rude to funny and endearing is one helluva mean feat. Thank goodness Gervais can actually act.
It's a Wonderful Life in Manhattan's Ghost Town
Comedy has been a big pull at the multiplexes of late, with the coarse humor of Judd Apatow's films particularly successful. Ghost Town, incredibly, has more in common with It's a Wonderful Life than it does with Knocked Up. This might seem a bold statement, not to mention a huge compliment, but the over-riding theme of Ghost Town is undeniably one of humanity. Just like It's a Wonderful Life, Ghost Town celebrates the difference an individual can make to the world, if they just try. This provides moments of unexpected poignancy amid the laughter, effectively enriching the whole tapestry of the film.
As the love interest Gwen, and her ghostly late husband Frank, Tea Leoni and Greg Kinnear capably flesh out the film. There are also various quirky cameo appearances, with Saturday Night Live regular Kristen Wiig particularly good as the perma-spray-tanned surgeon. Overall, this is Gervais' film though. His chatty, improvisational style delivering perfectly timed comic asides. Gervais has said he'd be interested in doing more film work, but only if the project suits him.
“Films have to have something more in it for me......I don’t do anything for money. It has to tick a few boxes for me.”
On the strength of Ghost Town, this would seem a very wise move.
- Ghost Town
- Starring Ricky Gervais, Tea Leoni, Greg Kinnear
- Written by David Koepp, John Kamps
- Directed by David Koepp
- Running time: 102 minutes
Further Reading - Remember just how brilliant It's a Wonderful Life really was, and check out the very funny Ricky Gervais podcasts.
Sources - Factual info: IMBd, Quote: msnbc
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