Review of She's Back

She's Back (1989)
A black comedy failure
11 April 2023
My review was written in July 1989 after watching the movie on Vestron video cassette.

This black comedy farce in the "Topper" vein offers a few laughs, but despite a July 7 release in Miami it's more likely to attract a following, based on presence of topliner Carrie Fisher, in subsequent video release via Vestron.

Low-budgeter originally was titled "Dead & Married", limning the hapless fate of Robert Joy, who moves to Queens with wife Fisher. The house is robbed by a neighborhood gang the first night. The thugs, led by evil-looking Joel Swetow, kill Fisher, but she's soon back as a ghost only Joy can see.

Script by Buddy Giovinazzo starts promisingly with Fisher's endless nagging (both while alive and dead) driving Joy crazy. Now she wants him to go out every night and kill another gang member responsible for her death.

Poor Joy acquiesces and fortunately is aided in his task by gung-ho neighbor (a Korean War vet) Matthew Cowles. Bodies pile up, makeup effects become more elaborate and, unfortunately, Fisher's funny role gets diminished by the final reels.

En route, it's a fun turn for her as a first-class kvetch, well-matched to comic foil Joy. Helmer Tim Kincaid keeps things hopping, though the fantasy premise and ghost's in-and-out presence seem arbitrary in what amounts to a sendup of the spate of revenge and vigilante justice pics.

Tech credits and supporting cast are okay, but this is strictly Fisher and Joy's show.
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