I had never seen the original Haunted Mansion, nor had I been on the ride. And if we’re being honest, the movie just LOOKS like it’s going to be a flop. But, when the theater has decent food and comfy seats, it’s easy to give it a chance. And I have to say, I think in this case it worked out in my favor! I mean, it did have a good cast from Rosario Dawson to Own Wilson to Danny DeVito, three great actors who know how to bring the “funny” in any movie. They and the rest of the rest of the cast did not disappoint.
Loosely based on the Disney Theme Park ride, Haunted Mansion is about a single mother who buys a mansion in the hopes of cleaning it up and making it into a bed and breakfast. However, once she arrives with her son, they realize quickly they aren’t the only tenants. In an effort to make the house a “home” they seek out help from several characters with special talents. They try to unravel the mystery of the ghosts and the history of the mansion before it’s too late. And that’s when the fun begins.
The acting isn’t top-notch, even with such an amazing case. But it isn’t exactly Oscar material. If you’re expecting that you should see Oppenheimer. Then is just a fun comedy about a haunted house with no social or political message meant to inspire us to be better human beings. However, the cast makes this a better movie than it should be and that’s what a good cast can do for a film. Performances don’t need to be Oscar-worthy to be entertaining a create a fun movie. The direction and cinematography aren’t anything new. And while the special effects are fun, they aren’t innovative. They do just enough to recreate Disney’s Haunted Mansion and are a big improvement from the film made 20 years ago. That’s the one thing this remake has going for it.
Overall, I would give it a seven…it was almost eight. If you’re looking for something to watch with the kids or while you drink with your friends, it’s a good option. But if you want something with substance or that you think could end up considered for an award you should find something else. It isn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be and I liked it. It just fell short for me. I wouldn’t watch it again, but if it was on TV while someone else was watching I wouldn’t “bitch” about it… there are a lot of movies, I can say that about. And me not “bitching” about something says plenty! The remake of The Haunted Mansion is a fun film with a good cast that is certainly worth the price of matinee tickets and it will be a great addition to Disney +.
