Kevin has just moved in with his older brother and their parents in the kind of house that everyone in the neighborhood knows is haunted, except for the new occupants of this one. However, between the unhappy teenager and the amnesiac and mute ghost named Ernest, it is rather the beginning of an improbable but beautiful friendship. Alas, dad discovers the pot-aux-roses and immediately creates a YouTube channel dedicated to the ghost. A public and media frenzy ensues which attracts the attention of the secret services. We will understand, We Have a Ghost (we have a ghost) is not lacking in twists and turns.
Based on a short story by Geoff Manaugh, this supernatural comedy was written and directed by the entertaining Christopher Landon, and many more gorehorror comedy Freaky (Weird), in which a serial killer finds himself in the body of a teenage girl, and vice versa.
On his side, We Have a Ghost turns out to be as funny as it is entertaining, and enhanced by superior special effects. We are then faced with a kind of cross between casper And beetle juice (Betelgeuse). The family dynamic is skilfully drawn in this respect: we understand Kevin (whose initial actions evoke those of Wynona Ryder in beetle juice) to look like he does.
In this regard, the young Jahi Di’Allo Winston is absolutely formidable, touchingly accurate both in his eyes and in his gestures. Faced with Anthony Mackie and his Marvel superhero figure (the series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), Jahi Di’Allo Winston looks even more scrawny. However, this fragility is only apparent, since his Kevin conceals treasures of resilience and courage.
It should also be noted that the complicity between the young actor and David Harbour, who is unsurprisingly formidable in the spirit of the house, is palpable. The star of Stranger Thingswhere he plays Hopper, manages to amuse and move repeatedly despite a silent score.
In the interpretation department, comedian Tig Notaro, seen in Army of the Dead (army of the dead), brings an unexpected but welcome touch of seriousness to her role as a ghost-hunting agent in search of recognition. Also noteworthy: the priceless Jennifer Coolidge, as a false medium whose looks would make Jojo Savard envious.
Tone Fluctuations
As in his previous surprise success, Christopher Landon likes to mix genres and tones, most often happily, but not always. Thus a section road movie », In the middle, he stretches himself unduly. Worse: at the end of the said component, the scenario makes evident, far too soon, the key to the mystery. At this point, the third act hasn’t even started.
This third act, which is based on a rather gloomy revelation, is closer to a traditional horror film in its unfolding. After the “gently frightening family entertainment” dimension that preceded, perhaps some will be destabilized.
As is, We Have a Ghost is probably a little too scary for toddlers, but not scary enough for older ones.
Of course, the American holy family is mended in the end. We may be used to it, in this case, the toxic narcissism of the father is treated with a disconcerting casualness: a great speech to son stuffed with marshmallows and clichés, and presto!, the matter is settled (fortunately Mackie is a good actor).
For the account, and there again in an example of more or less harmonious tonality, the sentimentalism of the denouement turns into syrup. We are then closer to Ghost (My ghost of lover) that of beetle juice (the film winks at both).
Nevertheless, there is no shortage of successful passages (the editing during which Ernest’s videos generate memes and TikTok clips, the visit of the TV team, the chase, etc.), as are the tasty replicas, besides (“If I die, I would like to come back and haunt Ted Cruz”, confided Joy, Kevin’s friend and neighbor). Above all, there’s something inherently satisfying about seeing the characters of David Harbor and Jahi Di’Allo Winston helping each other out of limbo. Literally for the first, figuratively for the second.