‘Ghost Town’: Hollywood Comedy Isn’t Dead Yet
by John NolteThe Hollywood adult drama is dead. Any talk of resurrecting it is futile. Nihilism and leftism killed it. It’s gone. If you miss it, get Turner Classic Movies.
A genre still salvageable, though in need of CPR stat, is the smart Hollywood comedy. These days, it seems were stuck with only an increasingly desperate Jim Carrey and Will Ferrell, the Judd Apatow gross-out collection, and overheated romantic comedies based on lame concepts like “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past,” or lamer still, catchphrases: “He’s Just Not That Into You” and “What Happens in Vegas.”
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And while the Hollywood comedy may not be dead, every time I think it deserves to be killed there’s a spark of life, and most recently that spark came from “Ghost Town,” a delightful, heartfelt little sleeper from last year starring The Mighty Ricky Gervais and two actors I normally don’t care for: Greg Kinnear and Tea Leoni (both have a television-level presence and project less warmth than ice).
Gervais is hilarious and perfectly cast as an anti-social dentist who wants only to be left the hell alone. After a near-death experience he finds himself haunted by a crowd of spirits who can’t move on until some bit of business of theirs is resolved. Since they can’t affect change in the real world, they need Gervais to do it on their behalf. Naturally, their constant presence combined their needing something from him is something he finds intolerable.
The concept may sound thin and like it can’t go anywhere, but because the focus stays on the character development of the Gervais character and not the ghost gimmick, the idea never wears out its welcome. Neither “spiritual” (in that annoying Hollywood way) nor religious, “Ghost Town” is just a clever, emotionally engaging look at a lonely curmudgeon forced to re-engage with the world. The after-life aspect is handled impressively with a matter-of-fact approach – a vehicle with which to explore a character and nudge him along. [Here's my full review from last year]
Best of all, the climax is beautiful, memorable and very well crafted.
Directed and co-written by David Koepp, the biggest screenwriter working today, this sweet, romantic gem all but disappeared thanks to an almost non-existent marketing campaign. For those of you who missed it and are tired of what passes for a romantic comedy these days, you need to check it out. It’s available on DVD, and probably has been for a while, but I just noticed it today.
Except for the marketing muscle, Hollywood got this one right.
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24 Comments
I loved this movie! Laughed all the way through. Couldn't understand why at the time it didn't get more buzz.
Not a bad little movie –I caught it on Blu-Ray last January– but pretty slight, as I recall. The set-up and characterizations were fine, but the humor overall lacked some zing, to me. A highlight was the scene where Gervais and Leoni are examining the mummy in the lab; more of the film should've had that fun tone. Even though the story rightfully belongs to Gervais, Tea Leoni could've been given a lot more to do (as usual).
In my opinion, if you want to see a film where Leoni is shown to best advantage, watch the noir-ish Ben Kingsley comedy, YOU KILL ME (2007), directed by the talented John Dahl (RED ROCK WEST, THE LAST SEDUCTION, THE GREAT RAID, JOY RIDE, etc). It got even less of a marketing push than GHOST TOWN.
Red Rock West and The Last Seduction are exceptional, tightly wound, very well directed and written modern noir pieces.
Joy Ride is also under-rated. One of the better horror flicks of the last ten years. Love Steve Zahn.
Rounders is better than it deserves to be…
Didn't care for The Great Raid but John Dahl deserves to be better known.
Caught this in the theater on your recommendation, John, and enjoyed it very much. Third the motion for the work of John Dahl.
I was watching "Groundhog Day" recently and was thinking the same thing. It wasn't that long ago (the 90's) when Hollywood still made mature, intelligent (and funny) comedies that in turn made money.
Other favorites of mine from the 90's are "Flirting With Disaster" and "The Opposite of Sex".
I love John Dahl's stuff. Have for years. Evangelize for him. Here's a little something I wrote a while back about another movie. (Click the "Website" link")
I may have to pick this one up. I was thinking when I saw the trailer that this one might be worthwhile, but I've been bitten too many times by bad comedies.
This was my favorite surprise of the year. Rented it knowing nothing about the film, only that it starred the great Gervais. The flighty, narcissistic young female surgeon character played by Kristen Wiig was unique, inspired, and hilarious, and the scene near the beginning with her, Gervais, and the hospital lawyer/bouncer was pure writing genius. The comedy was understated to perfection. The story arc and the ending were truly poignant. "I laughed, I cried" truly applies. And, most importantly, there was not a single liberal message shoved down the audience's throat. If not a conservative movie, then certainly a movie a conservative can love.
My other pleasantly-surprising "I laughed, I cried" non-liberal rental of the year: Adam Carolla's The Hammer.
Bought this on Blu-Ray when it came out months ago and didn't get around to watching it with the Mrs until last week. Great movie, and Gervais was excellent as an anti-social dentist, perfect in every way.
My favorite scene is where Gervais buys Leoni a gift nd Tea says the classic "You shouldn't have" – I was cringing every time he was trying to interact with her.
Oh, and "Ghost Town" was terrific. And I love Téa Leoni, pace Mr. Nolte.
My wife rented this one night. When I saw David Koepp's name on the box I was sure it would be mediocre in its best moments, but it turned out to be quite good. So I join in recommending it.
I liked the Great Raid having read the book it was based on, Ghost Soldiers. But then a lot of movies that follow the books too closely lack something.
Spot on John
I saw this movie in the Theaters and it was great. Greg Knear really does a good job. IT also treats its subject seriously while creating very funny moments.
It's amazing how focusing on character development can make just about any narrative concept work. Whodduh thought?
I liked this movie too, though I found the final act a bit forced and unconvincing. Lots of droll wit here, Gervais is delightful, Kinnear is well-cast as a jerk, and Kristen Wiig has a hilarious supporting part.
Oh, and I liked the "Sixth Sense" parody with the underwear guy.
My daughter rented this movie and brought it home to watch with my husband and I. We all really enjoyed it, which is unusual. We have fairly different movie tastes. I recommend it to anyone looking for a good enjoyable comedy.
I am a fan of Leoni's and I agree, You Kill Me was great. I rented it a couple of months ago and thought it was great.
Nailed it, John. This film is beyond what it should be by all accounts. Being a Gervais fan, I saw this in the theater. Laughed out loud, specifically at the after dinner scene with the dog. I'd recommend it (and have) to several people that I know.
I watched this movie and loved it, too. How refreshing to see Ricky Gervais play a romantic lead, and make you cheer for him when he wins the heart of the lovely Tea Leoni.
The movie "Sideways" also charmed me for the same reason. Paul Giometti and Virginia Madsen are just lovely together. I like when the interior goodness of the soul wins the heart, not the pretty exterior packaging.
Man – I saw Sideways and saw 2 middle aged losers. A son who steals money from his aged mother? A "man" who will say anything to a woman to get into her pants? I didn't see anything redeemable about those 2 but I did learn a bit about pinot grigio…
Love love love this movie, Gervais is exceptionally funny as the leading man and Tea Leoni is a delight…surprised that it was soo good, thought it would be the usual comedy flick but it knocked it out the ball park.
I def recommend this movie, if you want everything rolled into one.
Yes, please, please stop the gross out humor stuff. It's not funny and it shows that the people who do it are either lazy or untalented. Also, the Superbad, 40 year old virgin, knocked up filthy language stuff is old and unnecassary. The movie role models is another example of a good premise ruined by over the top foul language. Please, let's start using talent to get laughs not gross physical comedy or foul language.
Loved Ghost Town. Can't add much to the other comments about the film, except to note to received my highest accolade: I paid full price (not matinee) in the theater, and I bought the DVD as soon as it appeared.
An aside about Greg Kinnear. He's not always well used, but check him out in the basically awesome "We Were Soldiers." He completely nails the part.
Tea Leoni…never got her before, but she was engaging endearing in the film.
Kristen Wiig made me laugh every time I saw her.
Okay, one final thought…a lot of the casting was marvelous, in in Wiig and the strange, large, smiling black lawyer/bouncer in the hospital.
Just a wonderful film.
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