For what it is ? Eva Longoria Parker, as Kate, the ghost, represents the control-freak/ice-queen end of the female comedic spectrum pretty well, while Lake Bell as Ashley, the psychic, is perfectly lovely on the sweet, scatterbrained end. In the middle is Henry the vet, played by the winningly smirky Paul Rudd, and there are sidekicks drawn from the usual storeroom: the kooky sister (Lindsay Sloane) and the gay male best friend (Jason Biggs). There is no question that this movie, the first feature directed by Jeff Lowell, whose screenwriting credits include ‘John Tucker Must Die,’ But it also could have been, with a little more effort, a lot better.
Over Her Dead Body is marketed as a supernatural romantic comedy. The problem is that it’s neither very romantic nor very comedic—and things aren’t appreciably better on the supernatural front. The setup has Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria Parker (sporting one of those unhealthy-looking orange “tans”) as Kate, the obnoxious control-freak fianc?of Henry (Paul Rudd, Knocked Up). Kate is crushed to death by an ice sculpture of a wingless angel on her wedding day. Not only is this spectacularly unfunny and wrongheaded (three minutes of the Kate character and you′re ready to applaud the wingless angel and buy her a drink), but it is quite possibly the most amateurish bit of filmmaking ever to grace the screen.
So his naturally concerned sis, Chloe (Lindsay Sloane, Nancy Drew), drags him to see her friend Ashley (TV actress Lake Bell), a caterer who moonlights as a psychic (don’t they all?). The idea is to contact Kate’s spirit and get her to tell him to get on with his life. Of course, what happens is that Henry and Ashley soon fall in love (possibly because Ms. Bell shares the same alarming orange hue of Ms. Longoria Parker). Kate’s ghost witnesses this and decides that her unaccomplished mission in life (yes, this is one of those Lilliom-inspired affairs where the dead return to deal with unfinished business) is to save Henry from Kate. Complications, supposed mirth (including supernatural flatulence, of course) and the cheesiest special effects imaginable ensue.
Star(s) to watch : Eva Longoria (”The Sentinel”) as Kate, & Paul Rudd (”The 40-Year-Old Virgin”, “Night at the Museum”) as Henry.
Genre : Comedy, Drama.
Release date : February 1, 2008
Official website : http://www.overherdeadbodymovie.com/
Poster : http://movies-update.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/over_her_dead_body-202×300.jpg
Trailer :
