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Ghost Town

Ghost Town (2008)

tomatometer

85

Average Rating: 6.9/10
Reviews Counted: 179
Fresh: 152 | Rotten: 27

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.

86

Average Rating: 6.9/10
Critic Reviews: 36
Fresh: 31 | Rotten: 5

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.

audience

60

liked it
Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 428,885

My Rating

Movie Info

Structured in three parts to highlight the growing fissure between the past and the present, the desperation of the locals, and the plight of the abandoned, director Zhao Dayong's documentary offers a poignant snapshot of a town haunted by the ghosts of the past, and devoid of any discernible future. Venture deep into Southwest China, and eventually you'll come across Zhiziluo, a town populated by lost souls, and seemingly frozen in time. Here, Christian pastor Yuehan clashes with his father,

Dec 27, 2008

$13.2M

DreamWorks/Paramount Distribution

Cast

All Critics (184) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (157) | Rotten (28) | DVD (9)

It is alternately tender, sad and smart. It's also very funny.

November 7, 2008 Full Review Source: At the Movies | Comment
At the Movies
Top Critic IconTop Critic

This just kind of fell flat.

November 7, 2008 Full Review Source: At the Movies | Comment
At the Movies
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Naturally, Koepp makes it his business to redeem this unpleasant character and recast him as an acceptable stand-in for a romantic lead. But cynics should not despair; it's not a complete makeover.

September 19, 2008 Full Review Source: CNN.com | Comment
CNN.com
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's enlivened by the performance of Ricky Gervais as Bertram Pincus, a latter-day Scrooge for whom the living are no less annoying than the dead.

September 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Wall Street Journal | Comment
Wall Street Journal
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The best part of the movie is watching Gervais and Leoni delight in each other in scenes that burst with spontaneity and genuine warmth.

September 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Sure, it's a light comedy, but it effectively achieves what it sets out to do: amuse us and tug on our heartstrings. And best of all, it's written, directed and acted with intelligence and wit.

September 19, 2008 Full Review Source: USA Today | Comment
USA Today
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Dozens of other movies have romped on the same grass. But Gervais spritzes everything in Ghost Town with a delightfully refreshing comic mist.

September 28, 2011 Full Review Source: American Profile | Comment

The Town isn't as impressive as Affleck's directing debut, 2007's Gone Baby Gone, but he handles the action scenes with brutal efficiency and gets terrific performances from his co-stars.

September 6, 2011 Full Review Source: Movie Talk | Comment

Yes, there are gags about mummy penises and canine halitosis, but other sublime moments recall Albert Brooks' social-satire heyday. Given the otherworldly elements, David Koepp's "Ghost Town" sweetly hits the heights of Brooks' "Defending Your Life."

September 24, 2010 Full Review Source: Suite101.com | Comment
Suite101.com

The pudgy Brit looks right at home here on the big screen, starring in a romantic comedy in which we're asked to believe he might have a chance with Tea Leoni. And you know what? He makes us believe.

December 24, 2009 Full Review Source: Florida Times-Union | Comment
Florida Times-Union

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

August 30, 2009 Full Review Source: Washington Times | Comment

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

July 17, 2009 Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | Comment
Laramie Movie Scope

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

May 12, 2009 Full Review Source: SFX Magazine | Comment
SFX Magazine

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

April 27, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinema Writer | Comment
Cinema Writer

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

April 3, 2009 Comment
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.

March 21, 2009 Full Review Source: Screenwize | Comment
Screenwize
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Ghost Town

When I first saw the trailer for this, I thought it seemed like a quaint and interesting story. I've always had an undying fascination for things like ghosts and life after death (whether it be a comedy or otherwise) which I why I reckoned this to be a pretty safe bet. All I got, however, was an overly sentimental,

September 21, 2008
CloudStrife84
Mike S

Super Reviewer

Can't help get rumblings of 'Ghost' in places here, especially near the end when Gervais is trying to win over the girl...but with a lighter twist. Again its an average film that is fine yet lacking any real bite. I was really hoping for some Gervais gold but it really isn't as funny as it could have been. There are

December 13, 2008
phubbs1

Super Reviewer

    1. Bertram Pincus: I love you!
    2. Gwen: Don't call me!
    – Submitted by Chris P (12 months ago)
    1. Bertram Pincus: All work and no play makes Jack- a vital member of society.
    – Submitted by Chris P (12 months ago)

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Latest News for Ghost Town

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...

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...

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Foreign Titles

  • Wen die Geister lieben (DE)
  • Ghost Town (2008) (CA)
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