Movie Type: Family-Oriented Comedy, Haunted House Film
Themes: Ghosts, Unlikely Friendships, Mischievous Children
Main Cast: Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty, Eric Idle, Malachi Pearson
Release Year: 1995
Country: US
Run Time: 100 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Based on the popular cartoon character, this family-oriented "ghost story" is about a not-so-scary spirit who bonds with a little girl (Christina Ricci). The eternally irritable Ms. Carrigan (Cathy Moriarty) discovers that the only thing she's been left in her recently departed father's will is a rickety old house in New England. Naturally, the woman is furious about this, until her "close personal friend" and assistant, Dibbs (Eric Idle of Monty Python fame), discovers a secret message that a treasure may be concealed somewhere in the house. The two take off for Maine, only to learn that the house is haunted by Casper "the friendly ghost" and his three ghostly uncles Stinky, Stretch, and Fatso. After futilely recruiting an exorcist (Don Novello, more or less reviving his Father Guido Sarducci character from Saturday Night Live) and a "professional ghost exterminator" (Dan Aykroyd), she brings in a "ghost psychiatrist" (Bill Pullman) and his daughter Kat (Ricci). Innocently attracted to the young girl, Casper befriends Kat as they try to save the ghosts' home from the evil Carrigan. Eye-popping special effects highlight this magical story that touches (albeit lightly) on the theme of what lies at the heart of human desires. Clint Eastwood, Rodney Dangerfield, Mel Gibson and The Crypt Keeper (of Tales from the Crypt) all make cameos as apparitions in the mirror Bill Pullman looks into in the house. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
Review
Maybe it's time to start looking at modern Hollywood films from a different perspective. Certainly, the story in this youth-oriented fantasy is nothing to write home about: a haunted mansion containing treasure, a little girl who befriends an amiable young ghost, and various greedy and oafish adults acting like morons. Standard stuff. But the selling points here are the film's visual elements, which take the popular cartoon character and bring him to computer-generated life (afterlife?) with marvelously handled special effects and a production design that's a joy to behold. Other than a few unnecessarily prurient double entendres (which young kids probably won't catch anyway), this is a visual delight despite its workmanlike plot. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
Joe Nipote - Stretch; Joe Alaskey - Stinkie; J.J. Anderson - Student; Rodney Dangerfield - Himself (uncredited); Brad Garrett - Fatso; Garette Ratliff Henson - Vic; John Kassir - Crypt Keeper; Chauncey Leopardi - Nicky; Ernestine Mercer - Woman Being Interviewed; Mister Rogers - Himself; Don Novello - Father Guido Sarducci; Mike Simmrin - Phantom; Ben Stein - Rugg; Dan Aykroyd - Doctor Raymond Stantz (uncredited); Clint Eastwood - Himself (uncredited); Mel Gibson - Himself (uncredited); Wesley Thompson - Mr Curtis; Devon Sawa - Casper in Person; Jessica Wesson - Amber; Amy Brenneman - Amelia Harvey; Spencer Vrooman - Andreas
Credit
Daniel Maltese - Art Director, Ed Verreaux - Art Director, Phil Nibbelink - Animator, Paul Deason - Associate Producer, Nancy Nayor - Casting, Jeff Franklin - Co-producer, Steve Waterman - Co-producer, Rosanna Norton - Costume Designer, Steven E. Andrews - First Assistant Director, Brad Silberling - Director, Michael Kahn - Editor, Jerry Molen - Executive Producer, Steven Spielberg - Executive Producer, James Horner - Composer (Music Score), Charles Wilborn - Musical Direction/Supervision, James Horner - Songwriter, Christina Smith - Makeup, Raymond Stella - Camera Operator, Leslie Dilley - Production Designer, Dean Cundey - Cinematographer, Gerald R. Molen - Producer, Colin Wilson - Producer, Jeffrey A. Montgomery - Producer, Rosemary Brandenberg - Set Designer, Industrial Light & Magic - Special Effects, Michael Lantieri - Special Effects, Gary Hymes - Stunts, Seth Arnett - Stunts, Dennis Muren - Supervisor/Manager, Sheri Stoner - Screenwriter, Deanna Oliver - Screenwriter, Ray Colcord - Additional Music, Erich Wolfgang Korngold - Featured Music
