“A single mom named Gabbie hires a tour guide, a psychic, a priest and a historian to help exorcise her newly bought mansion after discovering it is inhabited by ghosts.” – IMDB
Hi, my name is Claire and I didn’t hate Eddie Murphy’s 2003 The Haunted Mansion.
Phew, glad I got that off my chest.
Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s no masterpiece. It was Disney’s attempt to capitalize off its own legend by providing a watered-down ghost story. But, it had some fun plot points, some real moments of humor, and…I didn’t turn it off!
So, I figured that since I was one of the few that somewhat enjoyed the original and since many studios (even Disney, see Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) seem to be learning how to make more enjoyable and substantial sequels/reboots, this year’s Haunted Mansion outside the original.
However, even though they were released twenty years apart (ouch, my back), Disney’s two Haunted Mansions are neck and neck in their quality.
While this latest version has a bevy of amazing actors and attempts to weave in the ride much more than the original, the plot and character development are incredibly clunky and it seems to be trying to please too many people. As a fan of Disney, it pains me to say this…but the film falls into the category of too Disney. It attempts to weave comedy, stories of grief, an overly complicated history, and nods to the ride all together in a pretty package. However, it never fully devotes itself to any single element and, in so doing, causes moments of both humor and sincerity to fall flat.
There were also some incredibly long and awkward pauses that made me want to channel my inner grandmother and write a letter to the (actual) editors.
So why did I still give it five Claire Bears?
Well, I know that when Halloween rolls around and I want to watch my silly, campy ghost movies, I’ll probably include this one. As with the first, there were some fun plot points, some real moments of humor, and…I didn’t turn it off! Or in this case, walk out of the theater!
I guess, after twenty years, I was just hoping for more…(OUCH, MY HIP)!
Rating: 5 out 10 Claire Bears
🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻
If you like this movie, you should also watch: The Haunted Mansion, Scooby Doo
Streaming: In Theaters
With: LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Owen Wilson, Chase Dillon
Directed By: Justin Simien
Let Me Clarify 