It seems we’ve seen every type of ghost film there possibly could be and that’s why Ghost Town doesn’t seem to be venturing into any uncharted waters. This film lacks the romantic premise of Ghost where the murdered lover returns to simultaneously tie things up with the love of his life and solve his own murder. This film is not some zombie film where the undead return to wreak havoc on the living. No, here we have those who have died with little [or big] things that are bothering them and they seek some resolve.

A sarcastic, misanthropic dentist named Bertram Pincus [British funnyman Ricky Gervais] technically died on the operating table for seven minutes and suddenly sees dead people everywhere! And they are talking to him endlessly. This is certainly not an original or funny premise. It feels like we’ve seen it all before somewhere though I cannot immediately put my finger on it.

A ruthless cheater Frank Herlihy [the affable, cute Greg Kinnear] was engaged to Gwen [the even more adorable and talented Tea Leoni]. Now he sees she is engaged to another and he wants that broken off and he thinks that Bertram can make it happen. Frank is determined that Gwen never marries this new guy. Why? I guess even in death he wants her to be miserable. So Frank feeds Bertram material that only Frank and Gwen would know and bing, bang, soon Gwen and Bertram are friends and hitting it off. Gwen seems motivated and open-minded while Pincus is just annoyed at everyone and everything the majority of the time.

Ghost Town moves at an excruciatingly slow pace and is as enjoyable as having a cavity filled. It is a shame because Gervais, Leoni and Kinnear should be working with much better material.

Grade: C-