Cute, funny, romantic fantasy thriller...but some disclaimers

Rating: 5/10 (16 March 2006)

When I saw this movie some years ago, I confess that I found it cute, funny, and romantic. However, I've matured a bit and now find that despite its love tale, suspense, and humor, I have several difficulties with it. First of all, I can accept ghosts as pure fantasy (as in A Christmas Carol), but the villains being dragged off after death to a presumably unpleasant place is neither amusing nor trivial, not something you should joke about.
The ridiculous plot is entertaining. The story revolves around an unmarried young couple, an investment banker Sam and a ceramic artist Molly, who have just begun living together. However, Sam is suddenly murdered one night by a 'thief' in an alley while walking home from the theatre with Molly. The dead Sam discovers that he is trapped as a ghost (it's a fantasy, remember?) and must warn Molly that she, too, is in danger from his murderers. He is unable to communicate with her, so enlists the assistance of a reluctant phony psychic named Oda Mae, who realizes she can hear (though not see) Sam.
Major sex symbols play the leads. Patrick Swayze is cast in the role of Sam, who in the afterlife must bring about justice for his murder as well as warn his beautiful, endangered lover. Molly is played by Demi Moore, an actress definitely not my favourite, though I admit she is suitably sensuous in this role. The best performance is definitely given by Whoopi Goldberg, who won a Supporting Actress Oscar for playing Oda Mae. The psychic's role is kind of a crazy one, but Whoopi pulls it off brilliantly.
*** WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD ***
This popular flick has of course a legendary, super romantic, tearjerker of an ending that requires a whole box of Kleenex. That final scene where (the late) Sam is able to physically interact with Molly for one last final farewell, and comes up behind, touching her as she's molding the clay, all to the unforgettable, haunting (no pun intended) strains of Unchained Melody...you'll picture this scene forever after every time you hear this song.
All terribly touching, except I hate to put a damper, but I have to agree with a comment I noticed on the Message Board. Pity Sam and Molly weren't married to start here. They weren't apparently committed enough before living together to take vows pledging enduring love and fidelity through all circumstances, so what is so wildly romantic now about this farewell scene? Yes, they were engaged apparently, but I had to kind of laugh at one reviewer's comment about them moving in together and beginning 'premarital LIFE', a euphemism surely for the real meaning, premarital SEX. Anyway, I lapped that farewell scene right up myself along with everyone else way back when, but I kind of question now whether it wouldn't have all been just a little more meaningful if this same cute fantasy had featured instead of the engaged live ins, an endearing pair of young newlyweds.
It's a fun, touching movie, but there ARE many more meaningful and genuinely moving love stories out there in the cinematic world. Remember this is a FANTASY, and don't get either your morals or your theology from it.