 "Photo: courtesy photo")
Out of the several movies I have seen this week, the one I felt compelled to write about was last September's "Ghost Town". I saw "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" -- and liked them -- but I imagine those are movies you probably already wanted to see if you haven't already. I imagine "Ghost Town" was never near the top of your mental queue. I am writing this article because I want to tell you that I was surprised by how much I liked it, that I was delighted by how much it surpassed my expectations. The film is not without its flaws, but it is charming and earnest, and deserves to be seen.
The filmmakers have wisely downplayed its potentially gimmicky high concept (sample pitch to studio execs: "It's 'The Sixth Sense,' but funny!"), and have focused on developing the characters and their relationships. Ricky Gervais (of the U.K. version of "The Office") plays Bertram Pincus, a British dentist working in Manhattan. In every piece of writing about this film I'm sure they call him a misanthrope, so I guess I will too, since it is a nice opportunity to use a word I've never before used. Pincus can't stand people, any people. If someone asks him to hold the elevator, he tries to shut the doors as fast as he can. Pincus isn't trying to be mean though; it's all really a defense mechanism. If you need any more explanation just listen to the end of Queen's and Bowie's "Under Pressure". It plays like the soundtrack to Pincus' life.
The premise: During a colonoscopy Pincus dies for seven minutes, and when he wakes up he can communicate with ghosts. Pincus confronts the doctor (SNL's Kristen Wigg) who conducted the colonoscopy, and a scene with a minor character that could have been only about two minutes long is extended to just under ten minutes. Looking back on it, logically, it seems like an odd choice. But both Gervais and Wigg are gifted comedians, and their exchange is neatly constructed, as she gradually, tentatively reveals his death in her understated, unctuous way. Wigg assures Gervais that his anesthesiologist was fired because the hospital "has a very strict three-strikes policy." Gervais responds appropriately: "My anesthesiologist had two strikes?"
Throughout the film, director and co-writer David Koepp demonstrates an ability to find comedy in these moments of digression, full of refreshingly original punch lines, Gervais' dry wit, and little bits and pieces of character development. It makes me very happy that I know Wigg's character has a spray-on tan that smells funny.
Pincus is now presented with a problem, being simultaneously a man who avoids human contact and a man who every ghost in New York City wants to talk to. They all want him to help settle their unfinished business, but only one ghost is able to successfully ingratiate himself to Pincus. Frank (Greg Kinnear) died a few months ago and had been cheating on his wife Gwen (Tea Leoni). Now Gwen has a fiancée, who Frank says is a jerk, and if Pincus can break them up Frank will convince the other ghosts to leave him alone.
Yes, Pincus falls in love with Gwen, and yes, Frank gets jealous and complications arise, but the whole love story is handled in a convincing and endearing way. Just after Pincus meets Gwen, it is clear he isn't going along with Frank's plan in order to rid himself of the ghosts, but to nurture a warmth in himself that had long been lost and only returns with her presence. This is crucial, because it arouses the emotions in us we need to suitably root for Pincus. Also, Gwen's fiancée develops in a manner that doesn't fall into the clichés surrounding rivals for affection in romantic comedies, and it strengthens Gervais' character in the process (I'll let you see exactly how). But the most important aspect of the love story in "Ghost Town" is the chemistry between Ricky Gervais and Tea Leoni. It reminded me of Catherine Keener and Steve Carrell in "The 40 Year Old Virgin." Think about how often characters actually laugh at what other characters say in a movie. Sometimes when it happens little alarms go off in our heads and we recoil from the scene; we like to decide for ourselves when something is funny without any interference from the film itself. Both Catherine Kenner and Tea Leoni are able to disarm us and seem to genuinely laugh and enjoy themselves onscreen. Leoni and Gervais have an easy way with one another, and when she laughs at his jokes I am able to laugh with her. Thank goodness for Leoni and Gervais' rapport because, as you will see in the film, humor is essential to Gwen and Pincus' relationship.
Spoiler alert! If you are still reading, I have to say the only sequences that fail in the film are two that surround Pincus' colleague, Dr. Prashar, and I mean that as no slight to the actor, Aasif Mandvi, who does a very good job. These scenes occur in the later part of the film, where the plot seems to stumble over its momentum during these distractingly slow scenes. The first of these plot chasms could have been funny but just winds up feeling uncomfortable inappropriate, and makes Pincus look a bit too much like a doofus at a point when he should be turning around. The other scene makes Pincus' transformation drag on too long, thereby making us lose a little respect for Pincus' character; it almost takes a bit too much for Pincus to change. These scenes are not fatal to the film, but are just ugly distractions in the midst of an otherwise stellar movie.
So, that is "Ghost Town." I honestly hope you will see the film. To put it simply, the film is funny, has a good heart, and will probably make you feel very nice after you have seen it.
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