Over Her Dead Body (2008)

A ghost tries to sabotage her former boyfriend's current relationship with a psychic.

Director:

Jeff Lowell

Writer:

Jeff Lowell

Stars:

Eva Longoria, Paul Rudd, Lake Bell

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eva Longoria	...	Kate (as Eva Longoria Parker)
Paul Rudd	...	Henry
Lake Bell	...	Ashley
Jason Biggs	...	Dan
Lindsay Sloane	...	Chloe
Stephen Root	...	Sculptor
William Morgan Sheppard	...	Father Marks (as W. Morgan Sheppard)
Wendi McLendon-Covey	...	Lona
Ali Hillis	...	Karen
Deborah Theaker	...	Mary
Natalia Safran	...	Bride
Andy Kreiss	...	Groom
Ben Livingston	...	Minister
Jack Conley	...	Cab Driver
Kali Rocha	...	Angel

Storyline

In Los Angeles, Henry is a veterinarian whose fiancée Kate dies in an accident on the day they're to marry. Worried that Henry has closed off his social life, his sister suggests he use a psychic to contact Kate, lay to rest unresolved feelings, and live more fully. He tries it, though he doesn't believe in it. Nothing happens, so his sister gives Ashley, the psychic, Kate's diary. Now she's able to convince Henry she's in contact with Kate and start the therapy. Two things happen: they find themselves attracted to each other, and Kate's ghost, who also has some unresolved issues, returns to stop this budding romance.

---

Plot Keywords:

psychic | red dress | mini skirt | voyeurism | voyeur | 

---

Taglines:

Just because she's passed on... Doesn't mean she's moving on.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

WILHELM SCREAM: Heard when the dessert blows up in Ashley's face at the wedding reception.

---

Goofs

When the ghost of Kate keeps Ashley up talking about her pets, when the alarm goes off it clearly flashes "6:00" but the radio announcer says it is 7am.

---

Quotes

Ashley: Dan! Sorry, the phone scared me so I killed it.

---

Crazy Credits

On top of the credits "A film by" is shown, while all involved people are listed. It disappears when the thanks-section starts.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (2016)

---

Soundtracks

Venus
Written by Robbie van Leeuwen (as Robert H J Van Leeuwen)
By arrangement through pigFACTORY USA

User Reviews

Entertaining. Isn't that what these films are meant to be?

By now, we all know the formula of a romantic comedy. The basic framework revolves around a guy meeting a girl, a love triangle, a little white lie and an event that causes them to split before the soggy finale where they kiss and make up, living happily ever after. If you go into a rom-com expecting much more or something that deviates from that path, you'll probably be disappointed. After bar setting movies like When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless In Seattle and Four Weddings and a Funeral, the constant stream of lazy efforts in recent years can cause one to be seriously jaded by the genre. So it is with this skepticism and desire to switch off my brain, that I pop Over Her Dead Body into my DVD player. It is apparent from a mere glance at the synopsis that this film will not last long in my memory, change my life or be any kind of profound filmic experience for me, but I was entertained. The script was amusing, the delivery from the four leads (Bell, Rudd, Biggs, Longoria) precise and well timed. The premise was an interesting spin on an oft used plot device.

So what's not to like? An entertaining, funny and endearing romantic comedy. At best, a competent entry into the genre, quite a way ahead of most of it's type and at worst, a movie that feels like a sitcom without a laughter track. As someone who likes sitcoms, that isn't a particularly bad thing. In a nutshell, you could do a lot worse.

Details

Official Sites:

New Line Cinema [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 February 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

How I Met My Boyfriend's Dead Fiancée

Filming Locations:

1690 Altadena Drive, Altadena, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,600,000, 3 February 2008

Gross USA:

$7,563,670

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$21,458,111

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gold Circle Films, The Safran Company, Dead Fiancée Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1