We Have a Ghost (2023)

 

 

Streaming Service: Netflix

Movie Name/Year: We Have a Ghost (2023)

Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family

Length:  2h 6min

Rating: PG-13

Production/Distribution: Legendary Entertainment, Temple Hill Entertainment, Netflix

Director: Christopher Landon

Writers: Christopher Landon, Geoff Manaugh

Actors: Anthony Mackie, Erica Ash, Jennifer Coolidge, David Harbour, Jahi Winston, Tig Notaro, Faith Ford, Steve Coulter, Tom Bower, Niles Fitch, Isabella Russo

 

IMDb Blurb: Finding a ghost named Ernest haunting their new home turns Kevin's family into overnight social media sensations. But when Kevin and Ernest investigate the mystery of Ernest's past, they become a target of the CIA.

 

 

Cat’s Point of View:

I have been super excited to watch We Have a Ghost ever since watching the trailer during our stream prior to February’s Top 20 list. Selina and I both had this film in our top 10 anticipated movies. 

It was well deserving of that placement. We Have a Ghost actually exceeded my expectations. There was so much more depth to the story than I picked up from the trailer. I went on a full roller-coaster of emotions while on this adventure - I even got a bit misty by the end. 

 

David Harbour (Black Widow, Stranger Things, Violent Night) was a great choice to play the ghost. It had to be a challenging part, considering that he had no speaking lines at all - but he was absolutely up to the task. I honestly couldn’t imagine anyone else filling those ectoplasmic shoes. The whole cast did well, really. The performances were spot on. I enjoyed the redemptive arc the family went through, as well. 

This wasn’t your average ghost story. We Have a Ghost found ways to make the whole ghostly experience relevant to today’s world by embracing technology, various modern media such as TikTok and YouTube, and the whole ‘content creator’ aspect. I had a real giggle over Jennifer Coolidge’s (Gravity Falls, Promising Young Woman, Shotgun Wedding) medium show. 

 

Writer and director Christopher Landon (Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, Happy Death Day, Freaky) has added one more to the list of why he’s quickly becoming one of my favorite storytellers. Of course, it ran in his family. His dad, Michael Landon (1936-1991), was the star of several of the shows I enjoyed in my youth such as Little House on the Prairie (1974-1984) and Highway to Heaven (1984-1989). I digress…

 

When dealing with paranormal-centric productions, there’s always the big question of whether or not the special effects surrounding the haunting, or what have you, are believable and well executed. We Have a Ghost didn’t disappoint there, either. While the properties of Harbour’s “Ernest” bucked some points of ghostly lore, overall the aesthetics worked really well. 

Over all, We Have a Ghost was a funny and heartwarming family story. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it, and I’ll even be watching it again soon because my daughter wants to watch it with me again from the beginning. She had joined me halfway through my viewing for review and was as glued to the story as I was.

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 39%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 61%

Metascore – 53%

Metacritic User Score – None

IMDB Score – 6.1/10

 

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4.5/5

 

Movie Trailer: