We have a Ghost Review - A breezy, infectious family Entertainer
In search of a new beginning, the Presley family moved into a long-vacant fixer-upper near Chicago. To the dismay of his youngest son, Kevin, it's the latest in a run of fresh starts for ambitious, restless father Frank (Anthony Mackie) (Jahi Winston). Even peacekeeping mother Melanie (Erica Ash) and older brother Fulton (Niles Fitch) are powerless to stop the growing hostility between them. Kevin wants to find acceptance through his unwavering love of music, but he's also tired of continuously being uprooted whenever Frank switches careers.
Ernest (David Harbour), a ghost with unfinished business, is initially encountered by Kevin. As Dr. Leslie Monroe (Tig Notaro) and Deputy director Arnold Schipley of the CIA (Steve Coulter) learn about Frank's discovery of Ernest, the entire family becomes a viral video hit, putting them all on their radar. This sets off a tumultuous trip that will affect everyone involved.
Landon prioritizes his characters when adapting Geoff Manaugh's short narrative. The director uses short, compelling methods to establish these characters as fully realized individuals long before the ghost adventure picks up speed. Even with their shortcomings, the Presley family is immediately approachable and offers motivation. Frank's harsher side is balanced by Mackie's charisma, and Fitch and Ash give their supporting roles enough personality variety to add to the family dynamics.
As he cannot communicate, most of his emotions are expressed through his body language and facial expressions. And if his presence increases the family turmoil in a predictable way, numerous touching moments were only successful because of his ability to convey emotion. Although the special effects dictating Harbour's ghostly form don't offer much to set this role apart from those in related movies like The Frighteners and Ghost, his performance is nonetheless solid enough to merit acclaim.
The funniest scene features Jennifer Coolidge and is reminiscent of Beetlejuice. But scenes like a complex automobile pursuit with an incorporeal monster, done with amazing swooping camera work, are what really distinguishes this film from the others.
We Have a Ghost periodically serves as a reminder of how packed Kevin's road journey is despite its lengthy running time. As a result, some supporting subplots seem to be ignored, although this ultimately doesn't take away from the main plot or its emotional impact. After the story is over, the dramatic beats and character arcs are all satisfying.
Ratings: 🌟🌟🌟☆