Year: 2021
Director: Roman Polanski
Country: US
Language: English
In 2020 the Walt Disney Corporation fell into dire straights when they were found to be collaborating with the Russian Government on their live action remake of Anastasia (1997). In addition, their remake of Songs of the South (1946) proved to be, as feared, a financial and critical failure. With a new anonymous CEO in charge, Disney sought to redeem themselves by providing a family friendly sequel to the supernatural fantasy film Ghost Dad (1990).
In the original Ghost Dad widower Elliot Hopper (Bill Cosby) was working on a deal to make sure his children were financially taken care of. Now his children have children of their own, so he has to make a business deal to make sure his grandchildren are also taken care of.
At 93 acting legend Sidney Poitier has come out of retirement to play the title role, mainly because disgraced 83 year-old actor Bill Cosby has had at least 100 more women accuse him of sexual misconduct since he was first accused in 2016. Nominated for a "Best Actor" Oscar at this year's Academy Awards, Poitier hasn't pulled off a performance this emotionally charged since he played Mr.Tibbs in Heat of the Night (1967).
Ghost Dad II is an organic art-house picture that has defied the majority of critic's expectations. Its existential themes, primarily the main character's desire to find meaning in an absurd and seemingly meaningless world, transcend pop culture and push the picture into "masterpiece" territory. Roger Deakin's cinematography gives new meaning to the word "breath-taking" as we are shown majestic mountains and vast translucent landscapes.
While the original Ghost Dad might be considered one of the worst films of all time, this sequel will certainly go down as one of the greatest. One might question the use of Bernard Herrmann's Psycho score, especially during the more tender moments, but Director Roman Polanski makes it thematically make sense.
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