An empty theater on a movie?s opening weekend generally
doesn?t bode well for a film?s success. Such was the situation this writer
found herself in regarding the movie ?Over Her Dead Body.? On a positive note,
open guffaws and cries of sarcastic disbelief would not be met with a loud
?SHHHH!? from annoyed fellow audience members. But on the flip side, when it?s
just yourself and the projectionist in the theater, any doubts about the film?s
potential charm are quickly quieted anyhow.
The film, apparently serving as the star vehicle for
?Desperate Housewives? cast member Eva Longoria Parker, focuses on Kate, an
overbearing Type-A personality preparing to wed Henry (Paul Rudd, ?Knocked
Up?), a calm veterinarian with a seductively sarcastic charm. Basically, their
relationship is a bluntly obvious case of ?opposites attract.?
As the film opens, Kate is seen frantically racing around
the reception venue, making sure everything is perfect for her big day. Flowers
are critiqued, decorations are mussed with ? even the reception?s place settings
get the thrice over from this bridezilla. But it?s the confrontation with a
sculptor (played wonderfully by Stephen Root, otherwise known as
Space?) who delivers Kate?s life-sized ice angel that pushes her over the edge.
Irritated with the angel?s lack of wings, Kate flies into a rage at the man?s
apparent unwillingness to either fix the mistake or bring her another angel.
The sculpture is then loaded back into the pickup truck it came from, and the
man backs out, preparing to drive away when ? oops! ? poor Kate is crushed by
the angel.
The film fast-forwards to one year later, when Henry is
still struggling to get over his fiancee?s sudden death. Chloe, his busybody
sister, convinces him to visit a psychic named Ashley to help him move on.
Henry, albeit with much skepticism, finally gives in. Unfortunately for Ashley,
her luck with the afterlife changes as she and Henry start seeing each other.
This really angers Ghost Kate, who shows up determined to crash the party and
keep Henry for herself.
Despite the fact that Longoria Parker is the film?s lead,
she appears in the film itself for little over half of its running time. Don?t
be mistaken, though, this is actually a good thing ? her dreadful overacting is
painful to watch. Theoretically, based on reports of Longoria Parker?s personal
life, she should have this type of shrilly, bronzed, bitchy character perfected
by now, yet it is almost impossible to take her performance seriously. Her
acting seems to be on par with a high school production.
To be fair, the movie?s failures don?t rest solely on
Longoria Parker. The plot is cliche-ridden and filled with unfunny gags and
dubious subplots. One of many extremely unlikely events involves Ashley?s best
friend Dan (Jason Biggs, ?American Pie?), who reveals later in the film that he
pretended to be gay for five years because he was in love with Ashley.
Also, there?s something strangely unsettling about a ghost
and a psychic fighting over the romantic affections of said ghost?s ex-fiance.
But having that ghost hover over you as you?re trying to make sweet love to the
ex-fiance? That?s creepy, indeed.
The movie?s only saving grace comes from Rudd, which only
makes the audience wonder why he agreed to do this film in the first place.
Although Rudd phones in his performance throughout the entire movie, his
sarcastic portrayal and humorous one-liners are enough to keep audiences
sitting. But Paul Rudd, you can do so much better.
Jason Biggs and Stephen Root also offer enjoyable
performances to the otherwise failed film, though not enough to save it
entirely.
Ironically, it is the women in this film who come across as
unlikable, with Kate coming out on top as the most unsympathetic of the bunch.
Chloe, likewise, is immature, whiny and unreasonable, and Ashley is fighting
with a dead woman over a guy she just met. Enough said.
If bad acting and a subpar plot is your cup of tea, then buy
a ticket to see ?Over Her Dead Body.? If you do, don?t forget to bring a six-pack
of your favorite beer, for this is a movie that must get better with alcohol in
your system. At least, one can only hope.
2 stars out of 5
