Haunted Mansion (#450)


Disney struck out.  They failed miserably in their attempt to release a summer blockbuster.  Instead, HAUNTED MANSION was a bomb, as evidenced by the fact that I was the only one in the theater at a 1:10 pm showing.  Even an all-star cast — which included Danny DeVito, Owen Wilson, Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish, and Jamie Lee  Curtis — didn’t help.  I didn’t even recognize Jamie Lee.  It was supposed to combine comedy and horror but didn’t because it wasn’t all that funny with very corny and juvenile dialogue at times. and it was not in the least bit scary.  A bunch of people in New Orleans join forces to rid the home of one of them of the ghosts that presumably inhabit it.  It is ridiculous and silly despite the fact that the filmmakers pulled out all the gimmicks and sounds and images to make it work.  Disappointing?  You bet.  In general, critics agreed with me for only 41% gave it a thumbs up, but audiences disagreed and favored it with an 84% positive rating. 

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