OVER HER DEAD BODY

Title: Over Her Dead Body Running Time: 95 min.Cast: Eva Longoria Parker, Paul Rudd, Lake Bell, Jason BiggsDirector: Jeff LowellProducers: Paul Brooks, Scott Niemeyer, Peter Safran,Norm WaittScreenwriter: Jeff LowellMusic: David KitayEditor: Matt Friedman Genre: Romantic Comedy/ FantasyCinematography: John Bailey Distributor: New LineCinemaLocation: Los Angeles, USATechnical Assessment: * * ½Moral Assessment: ● ● ½CINEMA Rating: For viewers 14 and aboveKate (Eva Longoria Parker) is about to be married toHenry (Paul Rudd), but on the day of their wedding,Kate dies when she is crushed by a huge ice sculptureof an angel. Kate is not allowed to enter heaven untilshe finally resolves her unfinished business on earth.Thus, Kate goes back to earth as a ghost constantlyguarding Henry. Meanwhile, Henry is unable to fullyrecover from the trauma of loosing Kate even after ayear, so he reluctantly agrees to consult a part-timepsychic cum full time caterer named Ashley (Lake Bell)at the urging of his sister Chloe (Lindsay Sloane).Despite his skepticism over Ashley’s psychicabilities, Henry finds himself falling hard forAshley, and the same is true with Ashley. Katehowever, haunts Ashley for she considers it herheavenly duty to break up Henry and Ashley’sblossoming romance.The premise of Over Her Dead Body is not really new.However, the actors themselves are somehow able topull it off because the viewers do not see them on thebig screen often. Eva Longoria Parker and Paul Ruddtogether with the rest of the cast are more popularlyknown as television stars. But then, the same strengthgives the film its major setback. Over Her Dead Bodyappears to be a made-for-TV-movie. The storyline isless cinematic and the script is a no-brainer. Thereare some funny moments in the movie though that theaudiences would surely enjoy but the film does notreally 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 itactually says that the phrase, “till death do us part”is never applicable for some obnoxious souls such asKate’s. Although there is quiet retribution towardsthe end, apparently the outcome of events are allmaneuvered by her, a ghost. There are lessons of loveand letting go to be learned in the film. Ashley asthe fake psychic goes back to the Catholic Churchwhich is also commendable. However, young audiencesshould be cautioned of some mild sexual insinuation,nudity and vulgar language. The film condonespre-marital sex and depicts drunkenness as funny andacceptable. Gender stereotyping and discrimination isalso present in the movie.