{"id":10481,"date":"2023-02-25T02:13:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-25T09:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/?p=10481"},"modified":"2023-02-25T14:14:29","modified_gmt":"2023-02-25T21:14:29","slug":"we-have-a-ghost-balances-comedy-and-drama-while-maintaining-a-suspenseful-plot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/2023\/we-have-a-ghost-balances-comedy-and-drama-while-maintaining-a-suspenseful-plot\/","title":{"rendered":"We Have A Ghost * Balances Comedy And Drama, While Maintaining A Suspenseful Plot"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/wehaveaghost.poster.jpg?resize=107%2C150&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10486\" width=\"107\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/wehaveaghost.poster.jpg?resize=214%2C300&amp;ssl=1 214w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/wehaveaghost.poster.jpg?w=450&amp;ssl=1 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 107px) 100vw, 107px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The discovery that their house is haunted by a ghost named Ernest makes Kevin&#8217;s family a social media sensation. But when Kevin and Ernest get to the bottom of the mystery of Ernest&#8217;s past, they become targets of the CIA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Nathalia J. Comments, \u201cThe adventure\/comedy film <em>We Have a Ghost,<\/em> directed by Christopher Landon, is thrilling, captivating and engaging. I like how this film balances elements of comedy and drama, while still maintaining a suspenseful plot.\u201d See her full review and interview with director, Christoher Landon below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We Have A Ghost<br>By Nathalia J. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nK5fFfx2CLY?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The adventure\/comedy film <em>We Have a Ghost,<\/em> directed by Christopher Landon, is thrilling, captivating and engaging. I like how this film balances elements of comedy and drama, while still maintaining a suspenseful plot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on the short story, \u201cErnest,\u201d by Geoff Manaugh, this film follows the Presley family as they embark on a mission to find a new home. The home they hope to make lifelong memories in, is haunted by a ghost named Ernest who quickly comes to be known as nothing other than misunderstood. Since \u00a0Ernest has no recollection of how or why he died, his soul is unable to fully leave earth. Eventually, the youngest child of the Presley family, Kevin, makes it his life mission to find this out and with that, the family gains fame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UjIM6zzF6tw?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/wehaveaghost.b.jpg?resize=225%2C126&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10483\" width=\"225\" height=\"126\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>My favorite character is most-definitely Ernest (David Harbour). Wonderful performance! Considering that David Harbour had zero previous experience with a character such as Ernest, he portrays the role magnificently. He is able to gain pity from the viewers, which is extremely rare for ghosts in films. Ernest\u2019s character development evolves perfectly, allowing viewers to grasp the moments of importance responsible for changing Ernest\u2019s perspective on life. It allows us to think of Ernest as a misunderstood, confused and helpless soul rather than an angry and malicious ghost. The spectrum of emotions that Ernest experiences do not feel rushed, but are perfectly timed out and displayed. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Wehaveaghost.a.jpg?resize=225%2C127&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10482\" width=\"225\" height=\"127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Wehaveaghost.a.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Wehaveaghost.a.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Wehaveaghost.a.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Wehaveaghost.a.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>My favorite aspect of this film is how it differs from previous adventure or horror-based films. In most cases, the threat (Ernest) will not associate with the victims \u2013 the Presley Family &#8212; in any way other than causing them harm. However, <em>We Have a Ghost <\/em>offers a fresh dynamic of friendship and cooperation, allowing viewers to not get stuck in the same thriller film cycle. Instead of expecting certain scenes or character motives to take place, I loved seeing something fresh in this film genre. I commend Director Christopher Landon for incorporating new and unexpected ideas to this film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This film\u2019s message is to appreciate, value and love the people in your life. Appreciate the littlest moments, because at any given time, those moments can turn into only memories &#8211;live life to the very fullest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I give <em>We Have A Ghost <\/em>5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. This film releases on Netflix February 24, 2023. Enjoy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/82I1ErFD63U?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The discovery that their house is haunted by a ghost named Ernest makes Kevin&#8217;s family a social media sensation. But when Kevin and Ernest get to the bottom of the mystery of Ernest&#8217;s past, they become targets of the CIA.<br \/>\nKIDS FIRST! Film Critic Nathalia J. Comments, \u201cThe adventure\/comedy film We Have a Ghost, directed by Christopher Landon, is thrilling, captivating and engaging. I like how this film balances elements of comedy and drama, while still maintaining a suspenseful plot.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4949,15],"tags":[3023,6253,1783,6249,464,3647,6263,6265,6251,5457,6254,5466,6262,6252,6261,6257,1166,547,6258,6260,6259,2221,6255,6250,6264,6256],"class_list":["post-10481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-feature-film","category-feature-film-reviews","tag-anthony-mackie","tag-black-widow","tag-by-kids-for-kids","tag-christopher-landon","tag-comedy","tag-david-harbour","tag-erica-ash","tag-ernest","tag-geoff-manaugh","tag-ghost","tag-ghost-hunting","tag-haunted","tag-haunted-house","tag-jahi-diallo-winston","tag-jahi-winston","tag-jennifer-coolidge","tag-movie-reviews","tag-netflix","tag-paranormal","tag-snl-seth-meyers","tag-spooky","tag-stranger-things","tag-tig-notaro","tag-we-have-a-ghost","tag-we-have-a-ghost-2023","tag-we-have-a-ghost-netflix"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paS5I2-2J3","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10481"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10481\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10489,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10481\/revisions\/10489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidsfirst.org\/kidsfirstnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}