The Haunted Mansion - Review

Man, this film is frustrating. Not only because of its cringeworthiness but because this has lots of ingredients to be a Halloween classic. This film is obviously based on the Disneyland ride of the same name and captures the spirit of the attraction marvelously. The style and production design of this film are wonderful. The aesthetics of the ghosts, the mansion, and the overall tone is really cool. Here comes the problem. While there are some elements and general story ideas that could make this film a Halloween delight for the whole family, those same ideas are coated around the ridiculous cliche storyline of a father who works too hard to pay attention to his family. Not only has this story been done countless times and was never interesting in the first place, but what in the world is this story about some rich, modern, suburban lawyers and their family trip to the lake have to do with the Haunted Mansion. Speaking of that dull family, they are all played by the dullest of actors. Eddie Murphy is a great actor but you can clearly tell that he is being held back. There were some scenes where he got genuinely angry and actually showed some emotion, but I knew he was trying so hard not to swear and keep it kid-friendly. News Flash Hollywood, don't cast actors in roles that downplay their strengths. Eddie Murphy is a crude, rude, funny jokes, dude. He shouldn't be exploring spooky corridors in a suit. Also, the actress who plays his wife... I think I just witnessed the death of acting on screen. Along with their daughter who literally looks like she isn't phased by anything. A ghost appears in front of her and she looks more bored than the audience does in that scene. Overall, this film's story did have some potential and stuck closely to the source material. The Haunted Mansion is a wonderful looking film that with a different story really could have worked. Eddie Murphy man. This is not the film for you. As for a recommendation, only for die-hard Disneyland fanatics that don't mind some cringeworthy dialogue.