Darby Harper Wants You to Know

There are so many shows/movies/themes overlapping here that you'll be able to figure out exactly what's going to happen next. Protagonist, Darby, is likeable but flawed. Antagonist, Capri (Capricorn), is insecure & vapid.

Outcast vs. Popular, Mean Girls style. Complete with their own version of Aaron Samuels. There are also themes from Heathers (OG, I've never seen the new one), Bring It On, 10 Things I Hate About You, She's All That...Just about any other early 2000's movie you can think of including the TV show Ghost Whisperer.

But here's why I gave it an 8: it's supposed to be all of those movies. All of the clichés are obviously intentional, and the acting really isn't that bad. I even teared-up at one point, just a sweet moment between two characters that was unexpected.

Final advice: watch it with your teens if they're allowed to hear some swear words or watch it when you're laid up on the couch with a cold (like I am). It wasn't a bad way to spend a few hours.

Initially when I sat down to watch the 2022 movie "Darby and the Dead", then I didn't know what I was in for here, aside from it being a fantasy comedy of sorts that involved someone being able to see and talk to the dead. And yeah, that sounded interesting enough.

However, writer Becca Greene churned out a script and a storyline that fell short of entertaining me. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not sayin that "Darby and the Dead" was a bad or boring movie, it was definitely alright, but it just didn't appeal to me. It felt like the movie was aiming at a younger audience and a female audience, so I fell short on both accounts there. So there wasn't much enjoyment in the storyline for me.

The acting performances in "Darby and the Dead" was good. I was for the most parts unfamiliar with the cast ensemble in the movie, aside from actors Wayne Knight and Tony Danza. Leading actress Riele Downs definitely put on a good performance to carry the movie.

I am sure that there is a big audience out there for a movie such as "Darby and the Dead", I just wasn't a part of that target audience.

My rating of director Silas Howard's 2022 movie "Darby and the Dead" lands on a four out of ten stars.

1 out of 5 stars.

Darby and the Dead is a horrible supernatural teen comedy film that has a dumb plot. Boring and cheesy humor. And the film fails to even entertain.

Boring plot about a teen seeing ghost who have unsolved conflict. And becomes friends with another narcissistic teen who died in front of her. And wants to turn the teen around from being odd to popular.

The humor is cheesy and unfunny. The direction breaks the fourth wall with the main character giving her input about todays society with teens. The acting is tedious with a boring cast. The film lacks the fun and entertainment to make this a pass.

I was delighted with this movie. Whereas it could have been silly and trite, it came across with believable insight and heart. Riele Downs did a terrific job acting the lead female role. She is lovely and pulled off this "Ghost Whisperer" like character with ease. One could ask what the target audience for "Darby and the Dead" would be. Well, I am in my seventies and found this movie interesting, charming, comedic and with a touch of romance. How is it possible for a Daniel Craig, Liam Neeson, Jason Statham fan to enjoy a light teen movie? No one is shot. No car chases. No sex. Well, it is well written deadly insightful fun!

Fun movie with a few flaws but they do not detract too much from the overall "goodness" of it.

For instance Capri once dead basically learn the "Swayze" in a day... You would think that in the movie's world there would be some form of Ghostbusters or something as the dead can interact pretty easily and fast with the living but no... Nobody really believe in ghost so you kinda get the feeling Capri is the only one really using her "powers". Wasted opportunity there.

The other thing is the other main character, Darby, is basically just as hot before her relooking. Its even worst than "She's all that" trope of remove the ponytail and glasses and you jump from an awkward nerd to a hot babe. And yes i permit myself to say "hot babe" as both main actresses (and supporting cast) are in their 20s even tough they portray teenagers suposed to be what... 15? Another trope you often see in movies of this style.

But like i said, these few "flaws" didn't detract me too much from enjoying what is overall a nice movie. Its a bit similar to Afterlife of the Party wich came in 2021 with Victoria Justice mixed with Ghost Whisperer but different enough to be its own thing.

Normally i am the first to say those "mini-shows" of 8-10 episodes are getting annoying (i miss the 22 episodes formula) and i would rather take a movie if its just one big arc but in the case of this movie i have a feeling it would had really benefited from being a show. Fleshing out more of the characters, extending the main idea and having maybe a few subplots for side characters. I just felt things moved a bit too fast. But maybe i am just over analyzing what is simply supose to be a teen comedy without any pretention.