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Kate (Eva Longoria Parker) is about to be married to Henry (Paul Rudd), but on the day of their wedding, Kate dies when she is crushed by a huge ice sculpture of an angel. Kate is not allowed to enter heaven until she finally resolves her unfinished business on earth. Thus, Kate goes back to earth as a ghost constantly guarding Henry. Meanwhile, Henry is unable to fully recover from the trauma of loosing Kate even after a year, so he reluctantly agrees to consult a part-time psychic cum full time caterer named Ashley (Lake Bell) at the urging of his sister Chloe (Lindsay Sloane). Despite his skepticism over Ashley’s psychic abilities, Henry finds himself falling hard for Ashley, and the same is true with Ashley. Kate however, haunts Ashley for she considers it her heavenly duty to break up Henry and Ashley’s blossoming romance.
The premise of Over Her Dead Body is not really new. However, the actors themselves are somehow able to pull it off because the viewers do not see them on the big screen often. Eva Longoria Parker and Paul Rudd together with the rest of the cast are more popularly known as television stars. But then, the same strength gives the film its major setback. Over Her Dead Body appears to be a made-for-TV-movie. The storyline is less cinematic and the script is a no-brainer. There are some funny moments in the movie though that the audiences would surely enjoy but the film does not really go beyond being clicheic and predictable.
Can a ghost really have a power over human beings’ decision? The film has worked on this thesis and it actually says that the phrase, “till death do us part” is never applicable for some obnoxious souls such as Kate’s. Although there is quiet retribution towards the end, apparently the outcome of events are all maneuvered by her, a ghost. There are lessons of love and letting go to be learned in the film. Ashley as the fake psychic goes back to the Catholic Church which is also commendable. However, young audiences
should be cautioned of some mild sexual insinuation, nudity and vulgar language. The film condones pre-marital sex and depicts drunkenness as funny and acceptable. Gender stereotyping and discrimination is also present in the movie.
(Date Reviewed: 27 March 2008)
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