Wow! Such a good movie.

just watch it!

Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

Boring

HIGH SPIRITS is one in a plethora of '80s-era comedy spook shows, accompanied by the likes of HAUNTED HONEYMOON, GHOSTBUSTERS, and THE 'BURBS. This is the least of those mentioned, purely because it's not particularly funny. If you like watching actors overact like crazy and run around like headless chickens all over the set then maybe this film is for you, but I prefer a little more restraint in my comedies. HIGH SPIRITS is an odyssey of dated effects work, slapstick gags, and a convoluted ghost romance plot that doesn't really go anywhere.The plot is straightforward stuff indeed, with the owner of an ailing hotel in Ireland (Peter O'Toole, phoning it in) deciding to turn his business into a haunted castle in order to drum up some trade. The story then follows the misadventures of a busload of American tourists who soon discover that the castle is populated by some very real ghosts that don't take kindly to their trespassers.As is usual with these '80s comedies, the cast is an involved bunch and one of the best things about the story. I'm no fan of Daryl Hannah, but Liam Neeson is fun in an early role as a ghost, and Steve Guttenberg is a dependable lead type. Beverly D'Angelo is very funny as his wife, but it's people like Martin Ferrero, Connie Booth, Peter Gallagher, and Jennifer Tilly who are among the funniest members of the supporting cast. A shame they're not utilised to better advantage.

Peter Plunkett (Peter O'Toole) is the drunk owner of a rundown Irish castle turned hotel. He needs to come up with the money in three weeks or else he will be foreclosed and the castle moved to Malibu. With his annoying mother's stories of ghosts, he gets his ragtag group of workers to haunt the castle for the arriving Yank tourists. Among the Americans are Jack (Steve Guttenberg) and wife Sharon Crawford (Beverly D'Angelo), Brother Tony (Peter Gallagher) before he takes his vows, Miranda (Jennifer Tilly) who has swore off men, Malcolm (Martin Ferrero) and his loud annoying family. The haunting efforts are amateurish but then the real ghosts show up. Sharon's father holds the mortgage and she's eager to disprove the ghosts. On the other hand, Jack falls for the beautiful ghost Mary (Daryl Hannah). Mary was killed by her husband Martin Brogan (Liam Neeson) and they are both forced to relive the moment. A drunken Jack breaks the moment.This could have been a fun little British romp about a bunch of local misfits trying to make a haunted castle. It has the potential to do that but the more Hollywood it gets, the less fun it becomes. The movie concentrates too much on the Americans. The more wacky the movie tries to be, the less funny it actually is. It's a funhouse without the fun. This is written and directed by Neil Jordan. It's possibly the low point of his career. Broad comedy isn't his thing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Peter O'Toole is wonderful as are the remainder of the actors. This movie is part of my DVD collection.It's a screwball comedy about what people will do to try to save their livelihood, marriages, etc. Some of the situations that the characters find themselves in are a bit corny; however, they are still funny. It's also somewhat of a ghostly movie. I thoroughly enjoyed the ending.If you've ever lived in England, Ireland, or Scotland, the characters in this movie will remind you warmly of those people.It is a movie that you can sit down with the family and some popcorn and enjoy.

This movie has a rather standard plot of some old 1970's horror films that I have seen over the years, that of the old house, old building, in this case the old castle where some sort of tragic event took place and the participants of this event are doomed to keep repeating it in the afterlife. And as is the case with those horror movies the event that took place in this movie is the murder of a woman by her jealous husband. This movie is not a horror movie by an stretch of the imagination, it is a comedy. I think some people are visiting the castle and staying there when all the ghost stuff starts happening. It has its moments when it is rather funny as Peter O'Toole is the best member of the cast as far as being funny, then the movie gets right down into being a sort of romance movie. Then the movie ends in a rather unrealistic way, leaving you to think what is up with that. There is also a sex scene that gets rather intense for a PG-13 rated movie so you may want to think twice about letting the kids see this one. I read this movie is not really what the director wanted and it shows as the movie at times plays out in a disjointed fashion. Still, there are laughs to be had and the plot is somewhat good if nothing we have not seen before.