Ghost Town (2008)
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A cynical dentist who can see and talk with ghosts is tasked with breaking up an engagement to help a spirit find peace.
The story
In New York City, anti-social dentist Bertram Pincus dies for seven minutes under general anesthesia, only to wake up with the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. One such ghost, Frank Herlihy, offers Bertram a deal: if Bertram breaks up the engagement between Frank's widow, Gwen, and a man named Richard, Frank will keep other ghosts away. Bertram, who is initially reluctant, begins to woo Gwen, a professional Egyptologist. However, as Bertram spends more time with her, he finds himself falling in love with her, creating a conflict between his supernatural obligations and his growing feelings for the woman he is supposed to be helping.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After dying for seven minutes during a colonoscopy, Bertram Pincus gains the ability to see ghosts. Frank Herlihy, a ghost who died in a bus accident, enlists Bertram to break up the engagement between Frank's widow, Gwen, and Richard. Bertram begins wooing Gwen, eventually falling in love with her. After Gwen breaks her engagement with Richard, she prepares to leave for an archaeological dig. Bertram reveals the truth about the ghosts to her, but she doesn't believe him. Bertram falls into a depression until his colleague, Dr. Prashar, encourages him to help the ghosts. Bertram realizes the ghosts remain because their loved ones aren't finished with them. During a confrontation with Gwen, Bertram is hit by a bus and becomes a ghost. He watches as Gwen sobs over him and Richard arrives to perform CPR. Realizing she cares for him, Frank finally tells Gwen the truth about his nightmare and leaves Earth. Bertram survives the accident and eventually reconciles with Gwen, who decides not to go on the dig.
- First release year
- 2008
- Runtime (minutes)
- 102
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- David Koepp
- Writers
- David Koepp · writer; John Kamps · writer
- Cast and characters
- Ricky Gervais · Bertram Pincus; Téa Leoni · Gwen; Greg Kinnear · Frank Herlihy; Billy Campbell · Richard; Kristen Wiig · Bertram's self-involved surgeon; Dana Ivey · Marjorie Pickthall; Aasif Mandvi · Dr. Prashar; Alan Ruck · the ghost of a family man
- Genres
- fantasy; comedy
- Themes
- love; grief; cynicism
- Tone and mood
- dry; bittersweet; absurdist
- Premise and plot tags
- supernatural; romance; comedy
- Reception
- Reviews of Ghost Town were mostly positive, with the film being described as an endearing and snappy romantic comedy. It received a Golden Tomato for Best Romance Film of 2008 and was generally well-received by critics and audiences alike.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 85% · review count: 188; Metacritic · score: 72 · scale: 100 · review count: 30; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Tomato · Best Romance Film · 2008 · win
- Production trivia
- The film was shot on the Upper East Side of New York City.; Ricky Gervais played his first leading feature-film role in this movie.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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