| Product: |
Over Her Dead Body (DVD) |
| Date: |
25/10/08 (229 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Reasonably watchable, with a reasonable cast
Disadvantages: One time watcher, Is nothing really new
When Kate (Eva Longoria Parker) is killed on her wedding day she is assigned a mission by an angel before she gets into heaven. The only problem is she wasn't really listening and has no idea what her mission actually is. Her former fiancée Henry (Paul Rudd) is finding it hard and with encouragement from his sister turns to a psychic to make contact with Kate. After a couple of sessions he starts to feel a little differently about her and that's where Kate returns as she is convinced she'd meant to stop Henry getting hurt and must do whatever she can to stop Ashley (Lake Bell) from hurting Henry.
Ever since Jenny moved into the flat I seem to spend more time watching out and out chick flicks than the action films I used to watch. This was the latest in a long line of them and while I really wasn't sure about it before we relaxed on the sofa I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. It's not that Over Her Dead Body provided anything new in terms of comedy or scripting, it was just a good, easy going and enjoyable film. It probably helped that I was feeling a little ill before we started watching it, but it did seem to fulfil all the criteria of an easy going and relaxing movie.
This is the first film from director Jeff Lowell as he makes the step from simply writer to writer and director. He has previously worked as a writer and producer for TV sitcoms such as Spin City and Just Shoot Me. I thought he actually took the step to director rather well. Obviously there are quite a few complexities in filming a movie where one of the lead characters can only be seen by one person and he seems to pull it off well. The most important aspect for him was getting the chemistry right between his lead characters and I think he did this rather well.
It's in the script that Lowell actually makes this a watchable film. The characters are quite well written and in fact the cast helps to make the characters likeable. The instant acceptance of Paul Rudd as Henry for instance really helps to convince you of the story and in particular each person's approach to their roles. While the script isn't anything exciting or new, it does exactly what it needs to and it may not be the most original 95 minutes of cinema time, it's something simple and enjoyable.
If it hadn't been for some very clever casting I think this movie would have really flopped. I wasn't sure whether the two lead characters would have the desired chemistry to pull it off after their initial screen meeting but I was pleasantly surprised at the level of apparent attraction between Paul Rudd and Lake Bell. I wasn't particularly familiar with either before the movie, other than Rudd's appearance in Friends but both seemed to take to the roll well and ended up becoming very convincing in their roles.
I hadn't been particularly familiar with Eva Longoria Parker until recently either and while her role in the film is slightly more unconventional she does it quite well. She made the character her own and while you don't necessarily like her, you kind of feel sorry for her, even if the scene that kills her is perhaps the most ludicrous thing I've ever seen in a movie. There are also reasonably funny performances from Jason Briggs and Lindsay Slone too, which again help to make the film more watchable than perhaps it should be.
Overall I have to admit to being very surprised by Over Her Dead Body. I didn't really expect to like it and while I can't say it's not anything I haven't seen before, it surprised me by actually being reasonably enjoyable. There are some funny moments and while most men will only watch this movie because of a significant other it makes it reasonably painful. That said I couldn't justify spending money on this film and for that reason I'm glad it came as part of our lovefilm subscription. It's a reasonable film, but certainly not something I'll be watching again.
Amazon: £6.98
Amazon Marketplace: £4.99
Summary: A reaonable comedy about a ghost looking out for her ex fiancee
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