'Ghost Town' web reviews

Ricky Gervais playing a self-centered dentist who can see dead people? It may sound like a crazy idea, but David Koepp's latest comedy "Ghost Town" is a refreshing little film that sure knows how to make audiences laugh (Read my review here). But what about the online critics? Do they agree with me on this one? Let's find out what some of them have to say:

• Cinematical's Eric D. Snider: "Personally I think he's hilarious, and if the film is little more than his attempt to break out of the "cult following" category and find some mainstream American success, more power to him."

• Josh Tyler at Cinema Blend: "The result is a tenderhearted, charming comedy which should at last wake the world up to the immense, raw talent of one Ricky Gervais."

• Brad Brevet at RopeOfSilicon: "The film never sinks too far into the sap, it keeps its comedy edge by only dwindling into the cliché near the end for its moment of personal redemption, but it offers up enough twists and surprises along the way to make any unoriginal moments forgivable."

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Review: "Ghost Town"

Seen on: September 19, 2008

The players: Director: David Koepp, Writers: David Koepp, John Kamps, Cast: Ricky Gervais, Greg Kinnear, Alan Ruck, Téa Leoni, Jeff Hiller

Facts of interest: Koepp also directed "Secret Window" and wrote "Panic Room" and "Spider-Man."

The plot: When a self-centered dentist suddenly dies but returns to life seven minutes later, he starts to see a bunch of dead people who all hit him up for a favor.

Our quick thoughts: Ricky Gervais, the man behind the original “The Office,” is not necessarily the kind of actor you regularly see on the big screen. And that’s a shame, because in David Koepp’s thoroughly adorable comedy “Ghost Town,” he delivers a hilarious performance that lightens up the entire movie and generates plenty of big laughs. The funny Brit definitely fits in, and I can only hope we’ll start to see him in lead roles more often. 

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Short takes: 'Half-Blood Prince' delayed!

• Variety reports Warner Bros. has pushed back the release of David Yates' "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" to July 17, 2009 (hey, that's my birthday). The sixth installment in the popular series was originally scheduled to hit Nov. 21, 2008. What a big disappointment.

• David Duchovny and Tea Leoni are set to produce CBS Films' "Born to Rock," a comedy pitch about a gang of aging rockers who suddenly find success as a children's band after a mix-up in their demo tape catches the attention of a producer. Jess Walter and Mark Steilen wrote up the project (The Hollywood Reporter).

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• Screen Gems obtained the rights to "Easy A," a script written by Bert V. Royal. Variety says the plot centers on a high-school student who seeks financial and personal gain by pretending to be the school slut.