Ghost Town is funny and moves along briskly, fulfilling the two most important qualities of a romantic comedy.
Ghost Town (2008)
Tomatometer
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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.
Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for some strong language, sexual humor and drug references.
Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:Sep 19, 2008 Wide
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
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Reviews for Ghost Town
This is a good romantic comedy, and that is a genre that often gets messed up. Here, the old formula comes out just right.
Rises above expectations, even though it never quite shatters the genre mould.
Gervais' rapport with his equally enjoyable co-stars Greg Kinnear and Tea Leoni also keeps Ghost Town on solidly funny ground.
Gervais, Leoni (adorável) e Kinnear estabelecem uma boa dinâmica, elevando o roteiro convencional e divertindo mais do que o material conseguiria naturalmente.
Ricky Gervais is an anti-social dentist who can speak with the dead in this very funny romantic comedy about unfinished business.
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.
In the end, Ghost Town delivers. Right now, we need all the laughs we can get. Especially kindly ones.
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.
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...
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
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
Sorrow and darkness aren't far below the surface of this lovely comedy, which makes our laughter more agreeable, and more frequent.
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
A delightful comedy with an edge of romance that is taken down a notch from its utterly drippy ending.
The constant appearances of the almost-dead indicate how out of ideas this premise holds.
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.
...it's to Gervais's credit that we wind up hoping the best for his character and cheering him on.
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 14, 2008:
Ricky Gervais - RT's Dinner and the Movies Interview - Chapter 5
We continue our series of extended interviews by spending an hour in the company of Britain's funniest man. With a new chapter every day this week, today Gervais finds a job for... More...
November 13, 2008:
Ricky Gervais - RT's Dinner and the Movies Interview - Chapter 4
We continue our series of extended interviews by spending an hour in the company of Britain's funniest man. With a new chapter every day this week, today Gervais discusses the... More...
November 12, 2008:
Ricky Gervais - RT's Dinner and the Movies Interview - Chapter 3
We continue our series of extended interviews by spending an hour in the company of Britain's funniest man. With a new chapter every day this week, today Gervais discusses a... More...
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