Forget the “Ghostbusters.” It’s the medical doctors you’ll wish to name after watching “We Have a Ghost.” A movie a few lifeless father, this image offers you extra complications than nightmares, extra sulks than shivers. The movie takes the premise of haunted home films–those the place a monster lives upstairs–and tries to replace it for a youthful crowd. It’s “Paranormal Activity” on YouTube, and it’s one of many extra irritating issues we’ve seen all 12 months.
Put collectively by Christopher Landon (“Freaky,” “Happy Death Day”), a director who mixes genres like sweet, “We Have A Ghost” doesn’t know what sort of film it needs to be. It’s a comedy with out laughs, a horror flick with out scares, making it a type of uncommon movies that may’t be outlined in any respect. Part of the issue is all these darn genres. Besides the entire haunted home factor, “We Have A Ghost” throws in a narrative a few household on the lookout for a contemporary begin, a tragedy a few father on the lookout for a misplaced daughter, a commentary a few child on the lookout for a brand new buddy, and a romance a few loner connecting with one other loner, all of that are thrown collectively like a blended bag.
During the primary act set-up, we get to know our teenage protagonist, who’s stuffed with anger and angst about transferring to a brand new dwelling. Kevin (Jahi Di’Allo Winston) winds up exploring the upstairs attic, which is large enough to deal with a basketball court docket and has sufficient mud to fill a swimming pool. Along with a number of packing containers, he finds there’s a ghost named Earnest (David Harbour) who’s been residing up there for 50 years. Unable to talk or write, Earnest communicates by a collection of hand gestures that aren’t a lot scary as they’re humorous, main Kevin to movie the ghost.
When dad (Anthony Mackie) finds a video of the ghost, he posts it on-line, hoping to make a number of further bucks. After a number of viral encounters (one with the nice Jennifer Coolidge), he winds up turning Earnest into probably the most important factor on the web since Tide Pods. A bunch of individuals tries to capitalize on that fame and proceed to trace down Earnest till Kevin takes Earnest out of city and goes on the run together with his girlfriend Joy (Isabella Russo).
There are a number of impressed moments, meta jokes, and wacky chases, however there may be by no means a coherent tone, and the tempo sags, which is bizarre for a high-stakes journey. You hold ready for issues to get just a little scarier or just a little raunchier, however there’s a wow issue lacking from this horror-comedy, which falls flat. Perhaps it’s the necessity to hold issues family-friendly, despite the fact that it’s a movie the place a ghost melts right into a skeleton, or possibly it’s the necessity to hold issues adult-friendly, despite the fact that it’s a movie the place a ghost melts right into a pile of flowers.
Whatever the case could also be, “We Have a Ghost” tries so as to add too many components to the combination–the horror, the comedy, the drama, and the message about how we have to go away our lifeless behind. Without committing to a tone, all of it feels a bit mangled. It’s a film that desires to be a mixture of all the pieces however, ultimately, winds up being nothing. [D+]