Synopsis
Casper is a kind young ghost who peacefully haunts a mansion in Maine. When specialist James Harvey arrives to communicate with Casper and his fellow spirits, he brings along his teenage daughter, Kat. Casper quickly falls in love with Kat, but their budding relationship is complicated not only by his transparent state, but also by his troublemaking apparition uncles and their mischievous antics.
Cast
Christina Ricci…Kathleen Harvey
Bill Pullman…Dr. James Harvey
Joe Nipote…Stretch
Joe Alaskey…Stinkie
Brad Garrett…Fatso
Cathy Moriarty…Carrigan Crittenden
Eric Idle…Paul “Dibs” Plutzker
Best Character
It’s hard to choose but I have to give it to Casper, he’s just so cute.
Best Supporting/Obscure Character
The exorcist priest guy that Carrigan hires to get rid of the ghosts has got to be one of the funniest characters of the entire film. After assuring her he can sort out the problem using multiple cake references he comes out of the house with his head backward. How that works I don’t know, surely he should be dead? Either way I love him.
Favourite Scene
The first appearance of Casper – he’s so cute. That’s it.
The scene where Kat’s dad is checking her room for ghosts and he checks multiple places telling her ‘look no ghost here’ and then he does it where Casper is and Casper scares him. This will always be funny and is the type of comedic trope that gets me every time.
Kat going down into The Lazarus is such an iconic scene. So iconic that I don’t think I can do it justice with just words.
Best Quotes/Lines
CARRIGAN: Are you trying to tell me that I just spent the last two days…holding his clammy hand, waiting for him to kick, and all I get in return is one lousy piece of property?
SOLICITOR: No, it was lousy years ago. Now it’s condemned. Enjoy.
I love how savage yet monotone the solicitor is. I feel like this actor always plays these types of roles.
NEWS ANCHOR: Now, along with his loner daughter, Kat…short for Kathy…Doc Harvey travels from town to town, searching for paranoid poltergeists, scared specters, the depressed and the dead.
The fact that the news anchor casually dragged a child is so funny.
KAT: You better, Dad. ‘Cause a single guy your age is more likely to become a bank hostage than to make new friends.
I love Kat’s character, this is definitely one of her funniest lines.
CASPER: There’s a girl…on my bed. Yes!
This part is actually a bit weird and creepy. It’s seems like a weird thing to put in a kids film. Kinda funny though.
STRETCH: Sushi, anyone? California roll coming up.
When James is falling down the stairs and is getting rolled up in the carpet and Stretch comes out with this is possibly the funniest line. It’s not a very obvious one as there’s so much going on in this scene.
KAT: Wh… What are you made of?
CASPER: Well, you know that tingling feeling when your foot falls asleep? I think I’m made of that.
Oh Casper you are so funny and relatable. I love how he says this line, it’s super cute.
JAMES: Why don’t we roll you in aluminum foil, and you could go as a leftover?
This feels like peak dad humour. That’s all I have to say on this line.
DIBS: Oh, you can haunt me all you want, but it’s gonna be in a great big, expensive house with lovely purple wallpaper and great big green carpets and a little dog called Carrigan a bitch just like you.
Surprisingly savage for a kid’s film. I love it. Best line hands down.
Favourite Outfit
It’s got to be Kat’s Halloween outfit that used to belong to Casper’s mom. It’s such a sweet moment when she finds it and he tells her she can have it. Although the dress looks super old compared to Casper’s toys Kat finds and sets up. To me, the dress looks either Victorian or Edwardian and the toys have lights and moving parts so I don’t know what’s going on there.
Favourite Setting
Whipstaff is absolutely stunning in a decrepit gothic kind of way. I’ve always loved this type of aesthetic and honestly the sets for this film are very impressive.
Best Musical Moment
The music in the opening scene is so cute, I don’t know why I’ve never realised this before. Film scores are one of my favourite things to listen to whilst reading and I haven’t noticed until writing this review just how beautiful this one is.
The ride of the valkyries plays when Stinkie, Fatso and Stretch appear in the kitchen and they’re all singing along completely off pitch.
I have to include Casper’s theme in this, it would be wrong not to.
Thoughts/Opinions That Don’t Fit Into A Specific Category
Casper’s crush on Kat is very cute. Although I have to say having him become a pillow for Kat to lie on is quite strange.
There’s a surprising amount of attempted murder in this. I’ve never noticed this before but there are at least three attempted murders and a couple of actual murders in this film.
Amber getting taken out by the fairy lights at the Halloween dance is hilarious and also the least she deserved. She was nasty for no reason, saw Kat once in the street and hated her instantly. I still don’t understand this, her character isn’t even necessary to the plot.
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