Ghost Dad (1990)

Elliot Hopper is a widower with three children, he is currently working on a deal. It seems like his wife's illness was very costly and this deal could put them out of the red. However, he ... See full summary »

Director:

Sidney Poitier

Writers:

Brent Maddock (story), S.S. Wilson (story)

Stars:

Bill Cosby, Kimberly Russell, Denise Nicholas

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Cosby	...	Elliot Hopper
Kimberly Russell	...	Diane Hopper
Denise Nicholas	...	Joan
Ian Bannen	...	Sir Edith Moser
Christine Ebersole	...	Carol
Barry Corbin	...	Mr. Emery Collins
Salim Grant	...	Danny Hopper
Brooke Fontaine	...	Amanda Hopper
Dakin Matthews	...	Mr. Seymour
Dana Ashbrook	...	Tony Ricker
Omar Gooding	...	Stuart
Raynor Scheine	...	Curtis Burch, the Cabbie
Arnold Stang	...	Mr. Cohen, elderly patient
Brian Stokes Mitchell	...	Teacher (as Brian Mitchell)
Lisa Mene Nemacheck	...	Jonelle

Storyline

Elliot Hopper is a widower with three children, he is currently working on a deal. It seems like his wife's illness was very costly and this deal could put them out of the red. However, he gets into a cab that is driven by a maniac, and Elliot crashes, and the next thing he knows he is floating around and finds himself in the lab of a scientist who studies the paranormal. Elliot asks the scientist to send him back so that he could finish the deal and make sure that his children are taken care of.

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Plot Keywords:

ghost | bedtime story | scientist | teen angst | waking up from a coma | 

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Taglines:

He's been walking through doors. He's been falling through floors. He's been going through a lot lately, but he's still Dad.

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 June 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

El fantasma de papá

Filming Locations:

Boise, Idaho, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$24,707,633

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, SAH Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Premiered in the U.S. in late June 1990, two weeks before Ghost (1990). At least five crew members worked on both movies.

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Goofs

The song "Miss You Much," by Terry Lewis, is credited to Jerry Lewis in the end credits.

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Quotes

Elliot Hopper: You know, one of the good things about being a ghost is that lights on, lights off, I'm still here.
Diane Hopper: [groans] Dead people can be such jerks. I hope... I HOPE this is Tony.
Elliot Hopper: I don't think so, because he's probably still sitting in the middle of the street wondering what happened to him!
Diane Hopper: [sighs]
Mr. Emery Collins: Hopper, where the hell have you been?

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Connections

Referenced in Hack! (2007)

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Soundtracks

Everytime I Say Goodbye
Written by Carl Sturken (as Carl Shuken), Evan Rogers and Paul Barry
Performed by Cheryl Lynn
Courtesy of Virgin Records

User Reviews

Face-pulling pointlessness with Bill Cosby

If one were to hear of a movie concerning the antics of a dead Bill Cosby trying to help his children, the cineast in you would not be stirred to see/rent it. However, I still managed to be unpleasantly surprised by the gall of this movie. Each turn around the seemingly aimless plot reveals fresh idiocy. Every moment of Cosby's acting seems an excuse for a new stupid face to pull, though even these become horrendous. One is left with an over-riding feeling of disbelief, after having been asked to suspend exactly that from new levels for the duration of the picture. I suppose really odd Dana Ashcroft fanatics may wish to see this. But this movie is for children. Stupid children.