Over Her Dead Body

Plot synopsis:
Kate and Henry are a happy couple. Henry proposed to Kate and they are about to be married, but on the day of their wedding, Kate is accidentally killed by an ice sculpture angel, because of the actions of an ice sculptor (Stephen Root). Unaware that she has died and her soul left her body, Kate awakens in Purgatory, and wastes precious time arguing with an angel who finally leaves before she can explain to Kate what she must do to move on.
A year later, Henry's sister Chloe (Lindsay Sloane) hopes that he will find closure by consulting Ashley (Lake Bell), a psychic who also runs a catering business with her gay best friend Dan (Jason Biggs). After an unsuccessful first meeting, Chloe gives Kate's diary to Ashley so that she can pretend to communicate with Kate and convince Henry to move on with his life. In the process, Henry and Ashley fall for each other... much to the consternation of Kate, who has been watching over Henry. When Kate voices her displeasure, Ashley hears her, unaware of what it means.
Angry over Ashley's deception and uncertain of what she's supposed to do, Kate later encounters the ice sculptor, and discovers that he is also a ghost (a result of a drunk driving accident). He explains to her that they must deal with their unfinished business. Believing that her job is to protect Henry, Kate proceeds to harass Ashley (who is the only one who can see or hear Kate). Using her ghostly abilities of intangibility, levitation, and auditory hallucination, Kate hopes to force Ashley to break up with Henry. Ashley persists, but then Henry discovers the fraud with the diary and breaks off the relationship. Despondent over the break-up, Ashley turns to Dan for solace, but is further distraught when Dan reveals that he's not gay and has secretly been in love with her for years. Over time, Ashley and Dan eventually reconcile.
After several months of watching Henry fall back into a depressed funk, Kate encounters the sculptor once more, who points out that if she had resolved her unfinished business, she would have moved on to Heaven by now. When the sculptor asks her what she really wants, Kate reluctantly admits that she only wants Henry to be happy... and realizes that he could be happy with Ashley. Then the sculptor reveals that Kate was his unfinished business and he had to get her to do the right thing before moving on, which he does. Kate first attempts to convince Ashley to get back together with Henry but Ashley doesn't believe her change of heart, and is preparing to fly to Las Vegas with Dan. In desperation, Kate finds she is able to talk to Henry through his pet parrot and gets him to meet Ashley at the airport. Realizing that Henry has forgiven her and that she has Kate's blessing, Ashley joyfully embraces with Henry. At their wedding, Ashley delays her walk down the aisle to sit briefly in the back pew, to promise Kate that she will strive to make Henry happy. Also at the wedding, Dan makes a new connection with Chloe. Now ready to move on, Kate arrives once more in Purgatory, congratulated for her efforts by the angel and requests the "orb of true light" collected from Kate's loved ones. The angel leaves once again, leaving Kate in Purgatory.

Tags: paranormal, revenge, comedy, haunting, romantic

Review:
The script was amusing, the delivery from the four leads (Bell, Rudd, Biggs, Longoria) precise and well timed.
Over Her Dead Body was a nice little movie, in general, that wasn't meant to be a masterpiece, but is just for enjoyment when you have nothing better to do, or are going to watch/see a so-so movie with your significant other.
With only one 'toilet humour' gag, Over Her Dead Body manages to actually come up with realistically funny scenarios and, without spoiling anything too much, some of the moments involving animals are hilarious.The staple ingredients of a good film are all there; script, director and actors and compared some other recent attempts at romantic comedy, this film stands tall.Sure, you aren't going to learn anything or have a spiritual awakening, but if you go with an open mind you will more than likely have a good time!.
Look it's Eva Longoria and Paul Rudd in a movie about a dead girlfriend haunting the new girlfriend.
Eva Longoria repeats her Gabrielle Solis act (of 'Desperate Housewives') except that this time her character is dead.
i wasn't a fan of seeing this movie at all, but when my gf called me and said she had a free advanced screening pass i tagged along only for the sake of seeing eva longoria and laughing at jason biggs antics.overall it was actually better then i expected but not by much.
eva did a good job of keeping up the sarcasm and paul rudd and the rest of the supporting cast (especially jason biggs) kept the laughs coming at a smooth pace.overall i liked the movie only because it had a good amount of laughs to keep me going otherwise i would have given this movie a lower rating.
I was just expecting this horrific movie, but it seems like the writers meant no harm, but the casting of Eva Longoria(Parker, sorry), she seems a little off set for the movie.
But Paul Rudd and Lake Bell had a decent chemistry that made the film somewhat likable.
The movie could've been funnier if someone had really paid attention to it and had a better cast.Henry just lost his bride to be, Kate, who was killed by an ice sculpture on their wedding day.
Kate is jealous and doesn't want Henry to move on so quickly and she will make sure that Ashley doesn't get him by torturing her day and night with her rambles, believe me, with Kate's voice, that's scary.Over Her Dead Body is an alright movie, not sure if it's worth the money, but I'd give it a rental for you if you want to see it or are curious.
Just with some re-writing and proper attention, this film could have been better, but instead we get the average predictable romantic comedy that will leave with with an empty feeling.4/10.
This movie has that scene too, but the disappointing script passes over it too quickly and with not much result for the plot.The highlight of the movie is the acting of two leads; Paul Rudd and the surprisingly funny Lake Bell.I've long had a growing admiration for Rudd, who has developed a style similar to that of Chevy Chase at his best.
If ever a serious production of sequels to the Fletch movies gets a green light, the casting agent would do wisely in considering Rudd.Lake Bell is rather new to me, and I was severely impressed by her comedy talent.
This Movie is So Bad. I gave it a 1 only because I couldn't figure out how to rate it what it deserves - a ZERO!Contrived, ridiculous, and incredibly stupid, this is the front-runner for worst film of 2008.It makes Eva Longoria unattractive, Paul Rudd unfunny, and Jason Biggs even more annoying than usual.The ghost returns to ruin the guy she "loves' chance a future happiness because she loves him so much?There's no chemistry, no humor, and no reason for this film to exist other than to pay for the summer homes of these stars.I was waiting for Ashton Kutcher to jump out of the audience and tell us we'd all been Punk'd!
With movies like this you know you are going to get the usual jokes concerning ghosts.
The plot was enough to tie it all together, a woman (Eva) dies on her wedding day and comes back to haunt the woman that is going out with her was-to-be husband, its sounds far-fetched but it actually works quite well.
Then, get this, a year later, her former fiancé falls in love with a beautiful psychic and then, that beautiful psychic gets haunted by the ghost of the disgruntled dead bride who wants to keep her from stealing her boyfriendhe heit'll be hilarious!." Polite chuckling.This, I like to envision, is how Jeff Lowell, the man who dreamed up "Over Her Dead Body," presented his concept to the studio execs over there at New Line Cinema.
The big mystery is how those very same corporate bigwigs could then turn right around and green light the project, allowing Lowell to direct the film as well as write the screenplay.For if you think that no movie could ever possibly be as bad as this original premise sounds, then clearly you have another think coming.
How else to explain the halfhearted, lifeless performances of Paul Rudd, Eva Langoria Parker, Lake Bell and Jason Biggs in their various roles?
Much of "Over Her Dead Body" is so painfully unfunny that I was actually squirming in my seat out of embarrassment for the actors.Eva Longoria proves that she can't carry a film in this terrible romantic comedy, and further, that she doesn't really even have any comedic timing.
The fiancé is played by Paul Rudd, drippy and charmless, while the psychic is played by Lake Bell, bringing the movie whatever anemic energy it has.
Unfortunately, she is up against the insurmountable task of making any movie that features Jason Biggs tolerable, and she is dragged down with the rest of the cast like Leo DiCaprio at the end of "Titanic." "Over Her Dead Body" actually pi**ed me off, because of its laziness and utter lack of effort.
Seriously, does Hollywood think movies like this are good enough?
Kate (Eva Longoria) is a bossy annoying bride to Henry (Paul Rudd).
There is a real need to have Longoria show her love for Rudd more than a few times at the start of the movie.
He would probably be miserable as Longoria's whipping boy.While I like Paul Rudd and Lake Bell separately and together, they don't strike me as the pratfall type.
have nothing to worry about (let alone Howard Hawks or George Cukor), but the screwball genre they worked so well in definitely inspires "Over Her Dead Body."\Beware Eva Langoria Parker's top billing -- Lake Bell is at least as important (and, in my mind, more appealing) in the film.
The whole supporting cast, mostly unfamiliar to me, is quite good.My favorite scene is between the Bell character's assistant and another guy toward the end of the film, with repercussions that carry on..
I admit i have not seen desperate housewives, But i think Eva Longoria Parker did an excellent job to make this movie SO frikin funny.
1) Paul Rudd - The guy is always funny, even when the script is lacking and this movie is no exception.
His dialogue was witty, it's just a shame the story could've been a whole lot better, but on such a poor premise I don't know how much more the writers could've done anyways.2) Lake Bell - I had never heard of her before this, since she was mostly a TV actress in the US, but her character was extremely likable, attractive and funny.
I will be checking out her prior and future work to see if she has any dramatic merit as well, but it looks as though she could become pretty big in Hollywood if she develops better taste in the movies she picks.Also, Eva Longoria Parker was pretty horrible in this, but she had a thankless task with the character she was given.
I don't think too many actresses could have done much more with the role, it was just badly written and completely unsympathetic.The acting basically saved what was a terrible script, premise and movie in general.
Longoria was the odd one out and most scenes involving her were the worst ones of the movie.I gave this movie a 7 for the acting and the strong lead performances of Bell and Rudd who, had this script focused more on instead of the dead girlfriend, could've made it even better.
Maybe it should've been made as a comedy/drama and focused on how Rudd gets over Longoria's death and Bell's journey to help him do it, but as it is, it's not bad by any means and should make a good date movie or rental.7/10.
His sister plots to get psychic Ashley (Lake Bell) to read Kate's diary so she knows some authentic information about her so Ashley can convince Henry that she is authentic, and then send him a fake message from beyond that tells Henry that Kate wants him to move on with his life.But faking Kate's voice will not be necessary as her ghost is back on earth, after another argument in the afterlife causes the angel who is supposed to tell her why she is being sent back to earth just throws up her arms and walks out.
So Kate's spirit is aimless on earth, other than knowing she does not like seeing Ashley and Henry together.The movie is largely predictable, but it is a nice relaxing watch if you just want to be entertained with something that does not involve violence or explicit sex scenes.
Over her dead body starring Eva Longoria and Paul Rudd is very formulaic, it follows the usual expected formula of a film in this genre, doesn't miss a beat.
I though Paul Rudd and Jason Biggs and lake bell were actually kinda annoying here, did not enjoy them at all.
I didn't think Paul had any good chemistry with Lake either, another issue I took with the movie.
Like I said, there are some funny lines and moments, all thanks to Eva Longoria.
That being said, don't get me wrong, because "Over Her Dead Body" is still entertaining enough for what it is.The story is about Henry (played by Paul Rudd) who is getting married to Kate (played by Eva Longoria).
A year later, Henry is forced to see the psychic medium Ashley (played by Lake Bell), but as she starts to fall in love with him, the ghost of Kate starts making her life difficult.The acting in the movie was good, and it was this that drove the movie.
She is then tries to ruin the relationship of her ex-boyfriend with his new girlfriend, a psychic who can see her.Obvious unoriginal movie wouldn't be bad in a clichéd sort of way, except that Longoria's character is hateful and obnoxious that she drains all of the fun out of the film.
Eva Longoria is at her worst (if she ever has a best) and in this movie she shows to all of the viewers that you can make it even if you have a complete lack of talent.
It is a pity then that the parrot, Cat & Dog were only in support & not the other way around, as the humans in it were pretty abysmal throughout.If I were you, Paul, Eva, Lake (what sort of name is that), Jason, & Lindsay, I would forget this acting lark & do something else, as all of you are as funny as watching paint dry, & awful actors to boot.The main gag in the film is one of the characters shouting, me not Gay, which is funny as if you weren't, you might change your mind if you had to put up with the three bossy, tedious & dare I say very plain women leads in the film.The worst film I have seen in years, & hopefully never see one as bad again, though I expect not..
What do you get when you mix a romantic comedy with ghosts and psychics, the result a corny movie with a predictable story.
The cast is good.Eva Longoria makes a good performance, Jason Biggs was funny convincing enough as a guy pretending to be gay.
Paul Rudd was a little weak and flat, and Lake Bell looks cute but her acting wasn't strong enough.
I have never watched Desparte Housewives, so I don't know how Eva Longoria is on that show, but in this movie she was horrible.
Over Her Dead Body wants to be an updated version of Topper but by making the ghost Kate (Eva Longoria) so unappealing and irritating, it damaged the premise of the film.Henry (Paul Rudd) is due to marry Kate his highly strung and bossy fiancé who dies on their wedding day when the ice sculpture falls on her.Death does not put a stop to her motor-mouth and bossiness where in the afterlife she is sent back to earth in spirit form but without any clear direction.In the meantime Henry who has been moping around for some time has been introduced to a psychic by his sister who is hoping that he will move on from Kate.
The psychic Ashley (Lake Bell) becomes interested in Henry herself, however Kate for some reason thinks that it is her job to put an end to this budding relationship in the hope that this will get her to move on in the afterlife.
The funny thing is that her character is actually not that different from her character in "Desperate Housewives".I found the first half hour a bit slow, to be honest, and the whole movie a bit flat at times, although there were some good scenes that made me laugh.It does pick up pace towards the end, and it's probably the last 15 minutes or so that made me rate this higher than I would have earlier on.I guess it's a nice enough movie and probably what one can expect.
The other characters are stereotypes and the plot is formulaic (I mean we are not talking 'Apocalypse Now' here) But the characters are likable, the story is engaging, the soundtrack, production and direction all work well.In all a great feel-good film that really deserves a lot more credit than it gets.Everyone has their own tastes but I really don't understand the one star reviews for this..
This had a good story...it had a nice pace and all characters are developed cool.I've watched a whole bunch of movies in the last two weeks and this had to be the best one I've seen in the two weeks.Jason Bigg's character was the best though.Even though it was small, it was cleverly crafted from the very beginning.This may be a romantic comedy and I don't like most, but the writing, direction, performing, sound, design overall in all capacity just was really thought out pretty cool.This film scored pretty high out of all the movie's I've seen lately - and the rest were big budget or better publicized.Good job in writing..
While Paul Rudd is at least handsome and looks like a nice guy, the taste in ladies of his character seems to need serious improvement as Eva Longoria seems too aged (sorry) for him, and Lake Bell seems too unattractive (sorry again).
Why would the only really cool character in the movie, the Paul Rudd character, want to have anything to do with the completely bitchy, condescending, control freak played by Eva Longoria?
And, more recently, Warren Beatty's "Heaven Can Wait" (1978), which was a remake of 1941's "Here Comes Mr. Jordan." These were well-written, funny, entertaining comedies, all of which centered around supernatural creatures like ghosts and angels.Now comes writer-director Jeff Lowell, making his feature film debut with a story of an unlikable, bitchy young woman, Kate (Eva Longoria Parker), who gets killed on her wedding day and then comes back to harass the fledgling spiritualist, Ashley (Lake Bell) who is falling for Kate's fiancé, Henry (Paul Rudd).
The lovely Eva Longoria Parker plays Kate, who dies after an ice angel crushes her before the "I do's" with fiancé Henry(Paul Rudd).
Henry, a veterinarian (Paul Rudd), and his bossy fiancé, Kate (Eva Longoria) are looking over the last minute arrangements for their reception.
Yet, the lovely medium, Ashley (Lake Bell) becomes interested in Henry herself, much to the chagrin of her catering partner (Jason Biggs).
She winds up there in a sort of heaven, & was still repulsive, I left shortly after.Eve Longoria portrays her & I hope I never see her again, she cant even act.She is just plain annoying.Paul Rudd an actor who normally can do no wrong also was in this dud.Jason Biggs ( no longer a teen) is also present,I do like comedies BUT not stupid ones about stupid people.Rating: * (out of 4) 30 points (out of 100) IMDb 2 (out of 10).
And it's enough pain when a wonderful comedienne I adore, like Eva Longoria, who established herself in a TV show such as (Desperate Housewife), does a movie where she gives no laughs in it !(Over Her Dead Body) is not bad; it just has some wrong matters.
During their time Henry and Ashley find themselves falling in love with each other, unaware that the ghost of Kate has returned to the world and is watching, and Ashley finds she truly has the psychic ability as she can see and hear her, and obviously she is not happy that she is with the man she was going to marry.
Longoria is alright as the bitchy dead woman trying to spoil things, Bell is okay as the girlfriend trying to have a relationship in peace, Rudd is likable enough as the guy in the middle, and Biggs gets his moments as the kook, unfortunately the script is lazy and full of clichés, it is not paced the right way, the attempts at laughs with crudeness and slapstick does not work well, and it just feels too mushy and predictable, a silly romantic comedy fantasy.