ShareThis"Over Her Dead Body" is a bad movie. I get that. Its premise is dumb, the writing is sorta lame and its star, Eva Longoria Parker, is annoying in her lead role as Kate, the ghost of a self-obsessed bride-to-be who comes back to spoil her intended husband's romance.But it's one of those movies you want to dismiss but can't bring yourself to turn away from. By some force of cinematic magic it hooks you, stringing you along for its dopey, ridiculous story and sucker-punching you with the occasional clever zinger.Despite itself, "Over Her Dead Body" works. Remember when you were 15, so stuck up and embarrassed by your parents you had to walk 20 steps ahead of them at the mall, but secretly you loved them? I feel the same way about the movie.Jeff Lowell, who penned the screenplay for "John Tucker Must Die," makes his debut as writer/director in the ghostly comedy.Lowell was smart to cast two unheralded but dynamic actresses in key roles. Lake Bell shines as Ashley, the psychic who starts off by conning Kate's widower, Henry (Paul Rudd), into thinking she's really communicating with Kate. Soon enough, she no longer needs to lie about the encounters.Lowell's other find was Lindsay Sloane as Henry's sister, Chloe, a slippery con artist who pops up intermittently with a different reckless scheme, further complicating her bro's life every time. As entertaining as the movie is, every time Chloe shows up you wish the narrative would forget the main thread and follow Chloe off on her misadventures. That's how effective Sloane is at stealing each shot with breathless glee.The prologue finds Kate in full bridezilla rage on her wedding day, finding her way to the afterlife after she's crushed by an ice sculpture. Death does little to chill Kate out. She irritates a guardian angel sent to guide her, then is cast to Earth before she can ascend to heaven or wherever it is people like her end up.Kate happens upon Henry, who has been dragged against his will to the psychic by Chloe, as he's starting to fall in love with Ashley. Jealous to the end -- and then some -- Kate begins relentlessly haunting Ashley. Kate's idea of haunting consists mostly of faking her out with noises, including doorbells and a public-address fire-alarm announcement. Ashley weighs her burgeoning romance with the painful burden of coping with Kate.You're hoping Ashley just moves on, just so Kate gets lost. Longoria Parker may one day evolve into a charming leading lady, but this is not her role. She overplays her one note of crass impudence, adding little depth to a thinly written character. Kate's lone motivation seems to be to annoy, and she accomplishes her task all too well.Oddly, the poor performance isn't a deal-breaker. Against your will, the dumb movie haunts you with the tenacity of Kate until you break down and succumb to its misguided will.3 stars out of 4Rated: PG-13 for sexual content and language.Family call: Fine for teens and up.Running time: 100 minutes.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Despite its faults, 'Over Her Dead Body' works
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