This movie was a fantasy about a ghost, but above all, it was a film about the importance of family. The performances were good, especially from Nicholas Stargel, who plays our very cute and relatable young hero Oliver and from Martin Mull, who plays the curmudgeonly ghost Clive with just the right mix of crustiness and warmth. The relationship between the marginalized Oliver and his unlikely mentor Clive was well done, though I did think that Clive became Oliver's friend just a little too quickly. I think just a little more development of the relationship was in order.
I liked how the story was not just about the ghost, but delved into family dynamics. This family had to learn the hard way that becoming a close, loving family takes more than just moving from a big city to a small town. It requires really taking the time to be there for each other. I also liked the theme that you shouldn't waste the precious moments you have with your loved ones, which is what Clive did with his daughter while he was alive. I enjoyed the feel-good ending, where they track down Clive's daughter, now an old woman, and help Clive achieve some closure by helping her realize he loved her and was sorry for their estrangement. I would have preferred to have her be able to see him, so he could tell her himself. The ending where they delivered his letter to her just wasn't as satisfying. I also find it kind of stupid how, in most recent ghost stories, the ghost is able to connect with physical matter, as Clive did in penning his letter to his daughter. Ghosts have no body to do this, and it's just a cheat by the writers of these stories, in my opinion.
The screenplay was a bit clunky in a couple of spots. I didn't really like the scene where the family was getting a lecture from Clive the ghost. It seemed a little weird, especially since they had just started seeing him and would likely have still been freaked out by his mere presence. A better way to do this might have been to have had Clive saying these things to Oliver and having his family eavesdrop on their conversation. Fortunately, the rough patches in the script were rather minor. I think the mere nature of made-for-TV movies, with their compressed production schedule, doesn't allow for the kind of polishing that the screenwriters need to iron out the rough edges of their stories.
All in all, I found "Oliver's Ghost" to be an entertaining, feel-good, family-friendly film that warms your heart just watching it. It's not a perfect movie, but it is certainly worthy of a watch or two.
I liked how the story was not just about the ghost, but delved into family dynamics. This family had to learn the hard way that becoming a close, loving family takes more than just moving from a big city to a small town. It requires really taking the time to be there for each other. I also liked the theme that you shouldn't waste the precious moments you have with your loved ones, which is what Clive did with his daughter while he was alive. I enjoyed the feel-good ending, where they track down Clive's daughter, now an old woman, and help Clive achieve some closure by helping her realize he loved her and was sorry for their estrangement. I would have preferred to have her be able to see him, so he could tell her himself. The ending where they delivered his letter to her just wasn't as satisfying. I also find it kind of stupid how, in most recent ghost stories, the ghost is able to connect with physical matter, as Clive did in penning his letter to his daughter. Ghosts have no body to do this, and it's just a cheat by the writers of these stories, in my opinion.
The screenplay was a bit clunky in a couple of spots. I didn't really like the scene where the family was getting a lecture from Clive the ghost. It seemed a little weird, especially since they had just started seeing him and would likely have still been freaked out by his mere presence. A better way to do this might have been to have had Clive saying these things to Oliver and having his family eavesdrop on their conversation. Fortunately, the rough patches in the script were rather minor. I think the mere nature of made-for-TV movies, with their compressed production schedule, doesn't allow for the kind of polishing that the screenwriters need to iron out the rough edges of their stories.
All in all, I found "Oliver's Ghost" to be an entertaining, feel-good, family-friendly film that warms your heart just watching it. It's not a perfect movie, but it is certainly worthy of a watch or two.