Today’s quick review: Ghost Town. After dying briefly during a colonoscopy, Bertram Pincus (Ricky Gervais), a misanthropic dentist, discovers that he can interact with ghosts. His ability becomes a nuisance when a ghost named Frank (Greg Kinnear) pressures him to break up Frank’s widow Gwen (Tea Leoni) and her new boyfriend Richard (Billy Campbell). But as Pincus gets to know Gwen, he finds himself reconsidering his own empty life.
Ghost Town is a fantasy comedy with romantic elements starring Ricky Gervais. An acerbic dentist on a mission from a dead adulterer meets a woman who gets him to come out of his shell. Ghost Town offers up a pleasant blend of observational humor and personal growth, both of which are delivered ably by Ricky Gervais. The movie never reaches great heights of comedy, but it tells a satisfying story with plenty of jokes peppered in.
Ghost Town’s greatest strength is Gervais himself. Pincus is at his best not when he is showing off his barbed tongue and his half-justified hatred of the human race, but when he is more vulnerable trying to impress Gwen. Gervais handles these subtler moments with skill, coming across as just the right blend of awkward and witty. The movie is laden with these quieter interactions, and they are what make the themes of the movie click.
The rest of Ghost Town acts as plain but effective scaffolding. The plot follows the expected template, with the initial friction between Pincus and Frank giving way to mutual understanding, if not friendship. The themes are fairly generic ones about living well and helping others. To the movie’s credit, the story is scoped well, with just enough content to say what it wants to without getting lost in the weeds or overstaying its welcome.
Watch Ghost Town if you are interested in a comedy-tinged reflection on life and romance. Ghost Town does not break the mold with either its premise or its execution, but what it lacks in ambition, it makes up for in quiet quality. Steer clear if you dislike Ricky Gervais or are looking for a more outrageous comedy.
For a fantasy romance with a very similar setup, check out Ghost. For another Ricky Gervais comedy that deals with similar themes, try The Invention of Lying.
[6.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0995039/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for an effective blend of humor and heart.