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Movies / On DVD / Ghost Town
Ghost Town

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Ghost Town (2008)

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Reviews Counted:171

Fresh:145

Rotten:26

Average Rating:6.9/10

Consensus: Ricky Gervais' consistently sharp performance and beautifully dry execution transform this otherwise mainstream comedy into an endearing, funny, and altogether snappy romantic comedy. With ghosts.

Australian Rating: M [See Full Rating] Infrequent coarse language

Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins

Genre: Comedies

Australian Theatrical Release:
Feb 12, 2009 Wide

US Box Office: $13,214,030

Synopsis: Director and screenwriter David Koepp (STIR OF ECHOES, SECRET WINDOW) brings Ricky Gervais, Greg Kinnear, and Téa Leoni together for a romantic comedy with a twist of the supernatural. Dr. Bertram... Director and screenwriter David Koepp (STIR OF ECHOES, SECRET WINDOW) brings Ricky Gervais, Greg Kinnear, and Téa Leoni together for a romantic comedy with a twist of the supernatural. Dr. Bertram Pincus (Gervais) doesn't like people very much. In fact, the antisocial dentist does everything he can to avoid interaction with other human beings. Unfortunately, he gets more than he bargained for when he is released from the hospital after undergoing a standard procedure: he can see dead people, and they can see him. Suddenly, every ghost in New York City wants Pincus to help clean up their unfinished business. Dapper Frank (Kinnear) is the most persistent ghost, badgering Pincus to help keep his widow, Gwen (Leoni), from making a big mistake. Gervais is perfect as Pincus, whose deadpan expressions make obvious his disdain for people. His comic timing is spot on throughout the film. Kinnear makes Frank likable, not an easy feat since he apparently wasn't such an upstanding guy when he was alive and married to Leoni's Gwen. Aasif Mandvi appears as a dentist sharing Gervais's office, and Billy Campbell is Gwen's new love interest. SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE star Kristen Wiig is a scene-stealer as Pincus's surgeon, particularly when she is trying to avoid telling her patient what went wrong during his procedure. Dana Ivey and Alan Ruck also appear as ghosts in need of help. [More]

Starring: Ricky Gervais, Téa Leoni, Greg Kinnear, Billy Campbell

Starring: Ricky Gervais, Téa Leoni, Greg Kinnear, Billy Campbell, Kristen Wiig, Dana Ivey, Aasif Mandvi

Director: David Koepp

Director: David Koepp
Screenwriter: David Koepp, John Kamps
Producer: Gavin Polone
Composer: Geoff Zanelli
Studio: Paramount Pictures

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Ghost Town

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
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Ghost Town is both a surprise and a departure: it's genuinely funny and quietly original. It also shows what Gervais can do in the right role.

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
02/20/09
Paul Byrnes
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

In different hands, this could have been forgettably saccharine fare, but Gervais' genius and an excellent cast of bit players turn it into solidly acerbic entertainment.

Full Review Source: FILMINK (Australia) | comment Comment
02/13/09
Jenni Dawes
Jenni Dawes
FILMINK (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Writer-director David Koepp is almost too careful a craftsman for his own good, but Gervais and Leoni share a talent for throwing the audience off-balance...

Full Review Source: The Age (Australia) | comment Comment
02/13/09
Jake Wilson
Jake Wilson
The Age (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This film is so unexpectedly enjoyable.

Full Review Source: At the Movies (Australia) | comment Comment
02/13/09
Margaret Pomeranz
Margaret Pomeranz
At the Movies (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The bravura blend of English eccentricity thanks to Ricky Gervais' presence and the surreal fantasy of a new take on the 'I see dead people' concept makes for highly entertaining cinema, especially in the first half

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
02/06/09
Andrew L. Urban
Andrew L. Urban
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

I laughed many times at the absurdity of the script and the situations, and was then surprised to find myself dabbing my eyes a few minutes later when emotional truths suddenly kicked in. Everything works

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
02/06/09
Louise Keller
Louise Keller
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Sorrow and darkness aren't far below the surface of this lovely comedy, which makes our laughter more agreeable, and more frequent.

Full Review Source: The Australian | comment Comment
02/06/09
Evan Williams
Evan Williams
The Australian
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A gloriously entertaining, deliciously funny and genuinely moving film, Ghost Town deserves to be seen and savored.

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
09/08/08
Paul Fischer
Paul Fischer
Dark Horizons
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Ghost Town is funny and moves along briskly, fulfilling the two most important qualities of a romantic comedy.

Full Review Source: Washington Times | comment Comment
08/30/09
Sonny Bunch
Sonny Bunch
Washington Times

This is a good romantic comedy, and that is a genre that often gets messed up. Here, the old formula comes out just right.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
07/17/09
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

Rises above expectations, even though it never quite shatters the genre mould.

Full Review Source: SFX Magazine | comment Comment
05/12/09
James White
James White
SFX Magazine

Gervais' rapport with his equally enjoyable co-stars Greg Kinnear and Tea Leoni also keeps Ghost Town on solidly funny ground.

Full Review Source: Cinema Writer | comment Comment
04/27/09
Jay Antani
Jay Antani
Cinema Writer

Gervais, Leoni (adorável) e Kinnear estabelecem uma boa dinâmica, elevando o roteiro convencional e divertindo mais do que o material conseguiria naturalmente.

comment Comment
04/03/09
Pablo Villaca
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena

Ricky Gervais is an anti-social dentist who can speak with the dead in this very funny romantic comedy about unfinished business.

Full Review Source: Screenwize | comment Comment
03/21/09
Simon Weaving
Simon Weaving
Screenwize

In the end, Ghost Town delivers. Right now, we need all the laughs we can get. Especially kindly ones.

Full Review Source: MovieTime, ABC Radio National | comment Comment
02/13/09
Julie Rigg
Julie Rigg
MovieTime, ABC Radio National
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Ricky Gervais has become a major international star. The British comic created and was the lead actor in the original British TV version of The Office (2006) and Extras (2007). He has won two Emmys and a Golden Globe. Now after a few bit parts his distinc

Full Review Source: Fayetteville Free Weekly | comment Comment
02/01/09
Tony Macklin
Tony Macklin
Fayetteville Free Weekly

A delightful comedy with an edge of romance that is taken down a notch from its utterly drippy ending.

Full Review Source: Movie Views | comment Comment
01/24/09
Ryan Cracknell
Ryan Cracknell
Movie Views

Koepp has no real feel for romantic whimsy.

Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
01/06/09
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com

The constant appearances of the almost-dead indicate how out of ideas this premise holds.

Full Review Source: Cinema Signals | comment Comment
12/31/08
Jules Brenner
Jules Brenner
Cinema Signals

While it's true that romantic comedy is to fine film what a burger and fries is to gourmet dining, David Koepp has shown here that his directorial skills are considerable.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
12/30/08
Brian Webster
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
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Latest News for Ghost Town

July 02, 2009: The Couch Tomato: This Week's DVD and Blu-ray in Australia
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November 12, 2008: Ricky Gervais - RT's Dinner and the Movies Interview - Chapter 3
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