Movie Review - We Have a Ghost

Director: Christopher Landon
Genre: Comedy/ Adventure/ Family
Runtime: 126 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: David Harbour, Anthony Mackie, Jahi Di’allo Winston, Erica Ash, Niles Fitch, Jennifer Coolidge, Isabella Russo, Tig Notaro
 
Description: Finding a ghost named Ernest (David Harbour) haunting their new home turns Kevin’s (Jahi Di’allo Winston) 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.

Review: Teenager Kevin and his family move into a suspiciously cheap house. Kevin discovers a ghost in the attic, but is unimpressed with this ghost’s, Ernest, scare tactics ans strikes up a friendship. Soon the rest of the family knows about Ernest as well, including the always chasing easy money dad Frank, who creates a hype on the internet. Meanwhile, Kevin, together with his neighbor Joy, tries to solve the mystery surrounding Ernest, who has no memory of anything.

Director Christopher Landon abandons standard haunted house moments to create a feel-good movie. David Harbour plays ghost Ernest engagingly as he shyly opens up to contact with the living. It’s easy to feel sympathy for him, which makes the ending very touching.

The whole CIA plotline was a bit too much and felt unnecessary to me. And the film is not that surprising, even though it’s not following the standard haunted house storyline. The friendship between Kevin and Ernest is the heart of the film, I really loved that.

An entertaining and enjoyable family film, definitely worth a go.

Rating: 3/ 5