Writer: Sherri Stoner, Deanna Oliver (Screenplay) Joseph Oriolo (Characters)
Starring: Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty, Eric Idle, Ben Stein, Don Novello
Plot: A paranormal expert and his daughter bunk in an abandoned house populated by 3 mischievous ghosts and one friendly one.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Delightful Family Film
Story: Casper starts with two kids going to the abandoned house to get a photo only to meet Casper before running scared. Carrigan (Moriarty) and her lawyer Paul Plutzker (Idle) inheriting the manor house which they discover has a hidden treasure but is haunted by the friendly Casper but three mischievous ghosts Stretch, Stinkie and Fatso.
Casper decides to solve his own problem by getting Carrigan to call noted ghost shrink Dr James Harvey (Pullman) who along with his daughter Kat (Ricci) try to solve the problem. While Casper and Kat become friends Dr Harvey has to deal with the mischievous ghosts, but with the dead and the living having problems that each help solve them.
Casper is a family film that could easily be loved by all, it shows what it is like for a traveling teenager who gets forced into moving because of family issues. It tackles the idea of trying to fit in be in adults, children or ghosts. I think the whole family can enjoy certain part of this film and it doesn’t resort to immature jokes.
Actor Review
Bill Pullman: Dr James Harvey is the man who tries to cure ghosts problems to help them move onto the next life. He has been searching for ghosts so he can see his late wife again but makes his teenage daughter travel around with him against her will. Bill gives a good performance showing how he can pull off comedy too.
Christina Ricci: Kathleen Kat Harvey is the teenage daughter of Dr Harvey who has to go around with her father as he tries to solve ghosts personal problems, she doesn’t get a chance to make friends with her limited time in each town but this latest house could give her a chance when she meets Casper. Christina continued to show she was going to become a show with another great performance.
Cathy Moriarty: Carrigan Crittenden has inherited the manor house but when she learns that there is a treasure inside she needs to find a way to get rid f the ghosts inhabiting the manor house. Cathy is only a supporting character but plays the stuck up woman who is used to getting whatever she wants really well.
Eric Idle: Paul Dibbs Plutzkeer is the lawyer of Carrigan who gets treated like crap because she is used to getting everything she ever wants, he ends up becoming thee bumbling idiot of the film. Eric shows off his comic deadpan style in the role where he always looks slightly slow to react to anything.
Character: Casper is the friendly ghost who just wants to make a friend, he gets treated like a door mat by his Uncle’s but when the Harvey’s move in he sees this as an opportunity to make that long awaited friend. Casper is a brilliant addition to the film world and is the first computer generated main character and original friendly ghost.
Characters: Stretch, Stinkie, Fatso who are the mischievous ghosts who live in the manor who just like to scare people and make Casper their own slave. They aren’t the most deadly of ghosts but just enjoy themselves. Stretch, Stinkie, Fatso all make good comic supporting characters in the film.
Support Cast: Casper has a supporting cast that includes the school students and some brilliant cameos.
Director Review: Brad Silberling – Brad does a great job directing this family comedy that isn’t over the top.
Comedy: Casper has well timed comedy with plenty of reference throughout the film giving us enough laughs without being too many.
Family: Casper brings us a story that the whole family can enjoy with reference all can understand.
Fantasy: Casper brings us into a fantasy world of friendly ghosts that just never passed over rather than them being all horror levels.
Settings: Casper keeps most of the film inside the manor house where the Harvey’s try to understand the ghosts, this works because we don’t need to have too many location for this film.
Special Effects: Casper has great effects for the time showing how far we had come even if certain things look weaker now they still are a lot better than certain ones we see.
Suggestion: Casper is one the whole family can sit down and enjoy. (Family Time Watch)
Best Part: The Halloween party.
Worst Part: I would like to have seen a little bit more comedy.
Funniest Scene: The drinking night between the mischievous ghosts and James.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: You could have a couple during the final act.
Chances of Sequel: It has sequels
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Box Office: $100 Million
Budget: $50 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
Tagline: Who says there’s no such thing as ghosts?
Trivia: During the filming Christina Ricci and Bill Pullman had to talk to tennis balls in place of the ghosts while the digital ghost were added later on.
Overall: A film the whole family can enjoy filled with laughs and fresh feeling.
Scorecard Rating