Image: Netflix

The paranormal adventure family movie, we have a ghostNow it’s streaming, but should I give it a watch?

based on the tale «Ernest» by Geoff Manaugh, we have a ghost it is a mixture of a ghost story mixed with elements of mystery, adventure and family comedy.

Written and directed by Queer & happy death day Christopher Landon, the film centers on the Presley family who recently bought a new home on the cheap which may have a reason for its bargain basement price. Searching the attic of his home, youngest son Kevin (Jahi Winston) soon discovers a wailing, thrashing ghost in the form of Ernest (Strange things Port David). Completely unfazed by his presence, Kevin forms a relationship with Ernest and tries to figure out why he might be stuck in this house instead of crossing over to the other side.

While Kevin’s intentions with Ernest may be more pure-hearted, his father Frank (The Avengers Anthony Mackie) and brother Fulton (We are star Niles Fitch) seem to have different motives for their paranormal roommate. After Kevin films his first interaction with Ernest and sends it to his dad, his dad decides to post these interactions online to try to become internet sensations. This draws all forms of attention to the Presleys and Ernests; from devoted fans camping out on the family’s front lawn to more sinister plans by members of the CIA who wish to capture Ernest for their own interests. Throw in interactions with psychic mediums and people from Ernest’s past and you get an overloaded and messy «shouldn’t be 2 hours long» movie from a writer/director who has done a MUCH better job.

We’ve seen all kinds of ghost story movies over the years. Most of them tend to have a terrifying and territorial presence that seeks to scare away the last inhabitants of the house in order to keep their home for themselves for eternity. On rare occasions, but quite often, you get a friendlier entity that might gently ask you to leave or maybe even develop a relationship with your new roommates.

Erica Ash as Melanie Niles Fitch as Fulton We've Got a Ghost

Image courtesy of Netflix

we have a ghost more of the latter follows as the family embraces (and exploits) Ernest despite the fact that he can’t speak, can’t remember anything from his past, tries to scare them on first encounters, and has no obvious connection to them.

Casper is a popular example of a friendly ghost, of course. He’s exceptionally friendly despite his terrible ghost uncles and he’s the ghost of a boy, so it makes sense when he falls for and befriends the young daughter of a therapist from the afterlife.

I found this movie closer to, pardon the phrase, «spirit» to the relationship between Lydia and the recently deceased couple Adam & Barbara in Tim Burton’s classic black comedy Beetlejuice, except nowhere near the quality. Lydia, a gothic teen who admits to being «weird and usual», initially meets Adam and Barbara in a similar, calmer and more undaunted manner, but quickly becomes intrigued with and befriends them, having read their manual for those who have recently passed away and find their situation fascinating even if they don’t want their family to stay.

Her relationship with them seems entirely plausible due to Lydia’s quirky personality, her fascination with death, and the isolation in a new home with misunderstanding parents and no friends in sight.

As for this movie, Kevin and Ernest’s relationship makes very little sense from the start; especially since we don’t know much about either of them and what little we do know doesn’t in any way match up to continue the mystery of Ernest’s past and his inability to cross over to the other side. Sure, Kevin is a sad teenager moving to a new place, but he also seems to have a strong relationship with his mother and his older brother and instantly becomes friends with the teenager next door, Joy (Isabella Russo). He has no paranormal fascinations and instead has a music nerd vibe that quickly disappears as the movie progresses. He’s not very nice either and seems reluctant to befriend anyone, especially a ghost who doesn’t seem more human like Adam and Barbara from Beetlejuice. As for Ernest, he can’t express himself very well and can’t make anything more than a moan or groan.

Anthony Mackie as Frank, Jennifer Coolidge as Judy Romano in We Have a Ghost.  Chrome Scott Saltzman/Netflix © 2022

Anthony Mackie as Frank, Jennifer Coolidge as Judy Romano in We Have a Ghost. Chrome Scott Saltzman/Netflix © 2022

He’s older and doesn’t seem to have anything in common that would attract Kevin in any way. He doesn’t seem like a father figure when his own father seems to be a failed schemer most of the time, so he doesn’t fill a need there. Besides, it would make more sense for him to tell his family about Ernest and try to talk them out of living in this new place he referred to as a «dump» than to try to help Ernest figure out why he’s trapped. . This is the basis of the movie and it is extremely flawed.

While this vital character chemistry falls flat, I think the biggest problem with the movie is the excessive bloat and nearly 2 hour running time. Several scenes seem strange and certain B-plots don’t seem necessary.

Unfortunately for these normally funny character actors, I got nothing from hilarious comedian Tig Notaro’s «Paranormal psychologist-turned-CIA agent-turned-disgrace-turned-author who has a shot at redemption» character arc. Why do we care about the CIA and its defunct ghost studies program? Why do we care about their motives? We have to spend that time with Ernest because we don’t know anything about him. We already have a lot of distractions with the social media element and the eventual villain that shows up at the end of the story. This all seemed very redundant and superfluous. We also have Jennifer Coolidge as a medium who seems to have neither the ability nor the desire to try to conjure Ernest in her house despite the fact that she brought them her program.

These several minute long scenes do nothing more than try to add to the laughs in a movie that had enough of the adventures on the road to come and could easily have been cut from the movie. I’m not saying the movie would be completely fixed by cutting 20 minutes, but it would go by a lot faster and focus a lot more if it did.

we have a ghost screen 2

Image: Netflix

The positives of this movie mainly come in the arc of Ernest’s redemption and the arrival of the true villain in this story, albeit too late for a truly solid impact. Once we get Ernest out of the house, the movie seems to move much better and offer more enjoyable and interesting material.

The car chase with a playful Ernest switching between police cars is some of the funniest in the entire film, and the mystery element of a potentially disastrous discovery about Ernest’s past leads to a satisfying ending to right the wrongs that were made. they committed at that time. of his death is the most intriguing piece of the entire story. It makes me wonder how much of this script is from the short story and how much was added to increase the page count and add some laughs.

If this movie has any success, it’s probably due to David Harbor’s total commitment to the character of Ernest. Playing a mute ghost who has to create sympathy and humor with just stares and falls sounds daunting, but Harbor pulls it off about as well as you could hope for if you’re Christopher Landon. Harbor capitalizes on the fatherly charm he exudes as Hopper in Strange things and he harnesses that energy to trick us into thinking he had to be a good father even though we didn’t have the evidence for too long in this story.

General, we have a ghost commits the ultimate cinematic sin of trying too hard and adding too many characters and subplots that ultimately stray from the heart of its story. The wasted efforts of a star-studded cast couldn’t save the movie from itself and couldn’t entertain as much as it had hoped.


What we have a ghost on Netflix if you like

  • Queer
  • ghost dad
  • hocus pocus
  • night books
  • Goosebumps
  • paranorman

MVP of We Have a Ghost

Isabella Russo as Joy Yoshino.

While she didn’t have the flashiest of resumes alongside her MCU and «Stranger Things» alumni, Isabella Russo really seemed to explode when given the chance in this film.

Playing the role of quirky friend, love interest, and brilliant sidekick, Isabella mustered enough presence and range to prove she can hang or even outdo her leading ladies. For a supporting character, she seemed to have just as much, if not more, depth than Kevin in a larger role.

Isabella Russo as Joy Yoshino We Have a Ghost

Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix


Play, pause or stop we have a ghost

ARREST.

The notable stars involved aren’t always front and center and talented writer/director Christopher Landon seems out of his depth in this mediocre and often baffling family game.