The huge box office success of “The Pirates of The Caribbean” guaranteed more adaptations of Disney theme park rides were forthcoming, and the first copycat to arrive, “The Haunted Mansion,” is a big bust that could dash the hopes of anyone hoping to see “Space Mountain: The Movie” materialize.
Eddie Murphy continues his unfortunate transformation from a versatile comedic wonder to an unfunny old fart more interested in padding his bank account than challenging himself. Watching him listlessly limp through banal fare like this and “Daddy Day Care,” it’s hard to believe he’s the same guy who flat-out nailed it in “Delirious,” “48 Hours” and “Beverly Hills Cop.” As Jim Evers in “Mansion,” he’s a walking cliché — a workaholic realtor who doesn’t have time for his family and is sorely in need of a lesson on what’s supposed to matter most in life. When a big listing comes his way, he doesn’t think twice about canceling a planned outing and dragging his clan along to check out the creepy crib. A sudden storm leaves them stranded, and from there it’s a barrage of ghost story gimmicks lifted from films such as “Poltergeist” and “Ghostbusters” — spirits zipping hither and thither, inanimate objects coming to life, even a disembodied head to chat up the kids. All of it leads up to Jim’s inevitable change of heart, which feels as artificial as the setting. The special effects in “The Haunted Mansion” are impressive, but certainly don’t break new ground. And as we’ve seen time and time again, even the best CGI wizardry cannot compensate for shoddy storytelling, which is precisely what haunts “The Haunted Mansion.”
(Rated PG for frightening images, thematic elements and language. Running time: 99 minutes)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 26, 2003. Read the original PDF.