Casper
Casper is one of those family, feel-good movies. The plot is pretty basic, though different. However, the special effects are wonderfully fun and the cast, especially Christina Ricci and Cathy Moriarty, are perfect. This is a movie to take the family to.
The movie opens with two kids daring each other to go into the house. They go in to take a picture of the place to show other kids that they are brave. The kids run out, screaming. The thing is, they took a picture of it -- actually, Casper does. Then, we see Cathy Moriarty. They inherit the house with Casper and his three uncles... and a secret.
Here is where the movie gets good. Most people are afraid of Casper at first, except for Cathy Moriarty, the film's villain. She has heard of a secret treasure hidden somewhere in the house. She plans to destroy it but the ghosts prevent the house from being destroyed. She isn't scared of them -- she is angry with them. She hears about a ghost psychiatrist, courtesy of Casper, and sends for him.
He agrees to the job and moves, with his daughter (played wonderfully by Christina Ricci), to the town. They move into the house to get rid of the ghosts. Christina Ricci finds Casper, and she screams. She tells her father and he goes to talk to it. She befriends Casper, or more like he befriends her, and they become good buddies. The only problem is Cathy Moriarty. She hired them to get rid of the ghosts but Christina doesn't want Casper to go. However, she despises Casper's three uncles. The uncles are hilarious and provide some great comic relief.
The movie now moves into its second half of the film, where they figure out how to work a resurrection machine. The second half is cute but not as good as the first. This part drops into mushy flashbacks (not seen, only told about). The special effects, thankfully, pull it out of this drop. The effects are original and surprisingly realistic.
Casper is rated PG. It really doesn't have anything offensive in it, except for some disgusting uncles and a wicked villian. It might be scary for little children (under the age of 5), but overall, the movie is a good family flick.