After a near-death experience during a routine colonoscopy, people-hating dentist Bertrum Pincus (Ricky Gervais) is shocked to discover that he is suddenly able to talk to the dead. Constantly cornered by unhappy spirits who want him to help resolve their earthly problems, the misanthropic Pincus is driven to distraction. Eventually talked into helping the dearly departed Frank Herlihy (Greg Kinnear), Pincus attempts to warn Frank's widow, Gwen, that her new man is a rotter. Unfortunately, Pincus's pitiable people skills make him the last person Gwen will listen to, causing the deadpan dentist to rethink his rude ways.
Having made cameos in big-budget movies such as Night at the Museum and Stardust, Ricky Gervais makes his leading man debut fronting this spirited romantic comedy. A world away from the uncomfortable realism of TV hits The Office and Extras, Ghost Town marks Gervais's first major foray into mainstream Hollywood comedy and a significant departure from his early work. While the film is hardly cutting edge, it gives the chunky comic ample opportunity to deliver his unique brand of curmudgeon shtick, with Greg Kinnear proving to be the perfect comic foil as restless spirit Frank.
Directed and co-written by David Koepp - best known for screenwriting hits such as Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible and Spider-Man - Ghost Town is an enjoyable, good-natured yarn and a promising start to Gervais's inevitable ascent to leading man status.
Ghost Town is a Film programme that first aired in 2008 and has been classified a 12 certificate.
