Grumpy Comedy Reviews – Ghost Town

I thought Tropic Thunder was last year’s only decent high-concept comedy but I forgot all about Ricky Gervais’ leading man debut in Ghost Town. And If there’s ever a reason to see a movie about ghosts annoying a “jerk dentist” it’s Ricky Gervais… who plays the jerk dentist.

Anyone who has seen the original BBC version of The Office or Extras knows the guy is comic gold.

Gervais is the absolute reason to see Ghost Town, at least until it turns into a romantic comedy that wants to tell you how much you should live your life to the fullest because you can lose it at any moment. What is this, The Curious Case of Ricky Gervais?

Watch out! I’m gonna say “Ricky Gervais” eight more times!

So, yeah, it’s sappy and there’s wet, glassy eyes towards the end. But, before that GAY stuff, Ricky Gervais plays an incredibly agreeable asshole. While observing his asshole-y behavior, you can’t help but nod, rub the scruff of your chin and think, “Yes, these are things I can see myself doing.”

Well, if you’re a like-minded, hateful shut-in anyway.

Big ugly dogs are disgusting, sharing elevators with people is tantamount to suicide, and who cares what people have to say? It’s these moments of the movie that shine. When Gervais rolls his eyes and stammers, panics and grimaces like a champion asshole.

Like an honest asshole.

Then Greg Kinnear shows up in a tux with a host of other dead guys (including Ferris Buhler’s best friend and a naked guy who looks like Alton Brown) who teach him how to put up with the living – so he can improve himself and crap. Pfft, whatever. Why must an antisocial stick-in-the-mud need change? They’re far more entertaining the way they are.

And that’s how the movie goes all the way to its mushy, predictable end. Ghost Town breaks no new ground, but there are enough honest, funny moments in the whole thing to make it worthwhile and maybe, just maybe, you’ll smile at the end, wipe a tear from your crumby beard and pray to the entity of your choice (the script thankfully avoids any religious references).

However, if it was a different actor in the lead besides Gervais it would have failed for sure. If it was Jim Carrey or Mike Myers, it would’ve been fart jokes and flailing arms and bullshit, maybe with some Word of Mouf samples thrown in for the ghosts to fart and shit to. Well, okay, to be fair Ghost Town does have a mummified schlong in it.

But I’m not telling you where.

HIGHLIGHT: Ghosts are chasing Ricky Gervais through Central Park. Suddenly “Sabre Dance” plays on violin on the soundtrack to highlight the wackiness. Then the camera pans over and it’s someone actually playing the song on violin. Heh.