"Ghost Town" Review: Who says a mean guy can't find love?

When it was suggested that I see Ghost Town, I was reluctant only because Ricky Gervais in what appears to be a love story? Really? Then I realized that it was Gervais who exported and has supported the iconic love story of Jim and Pam for all of us Americans. And yet Gervais still doesn't have that presence that other British actors have in the US. He has yet to prove that his one-two punch of writing and acting talent drizzled with expert comedic timing could transcend the Atlantic Ocean. Though I think that with this film and this particular role he is about to come out with guns blazing.

Ricky Gervais is Bertram Pincus. A misanthropic and miserable asshole of a dentist who values his space and alone time. One day he goes in for a routine medical procedure and ends up dying for seven minutes. Though he doesn't realize this until he leaves the hospital and finds that he can see ghosts. In fact it seems that Manhattan is riddled with people in the after-life wandering the streets literally like lost puppies.

One of the ghosts that Dr. Pincus cannot shake is a guy named Frank (Greg Kinnear) who died and left his wife, Gwen (Tea Leoni). Frank tells Dr. Pincus that if he helps to get Gwen away from the man she is currently engaged to then he and the other spirits will leave him alone for good. Franks normal unwillingness to barricade himself from the rest of the world turns a little softer as he and Gwen get to know each other. Frank slowly starts to put down is 'I'm a dickhead' front as he slowly falls in love with Gwen.

It's all very typical on the surface perhaps but the combination of Gervais and Kinnear: One being a bit of a bumbling idiot who you'd never root for in a love story and the other being a jerk but at least he's a jerk who can do the love thing; well it makes for laughter and a bit of heartbreak and maybe even a tear or two. Or at least that tell tale lump in the back of your throat.

The story follows that premise that spirits who are still walking the Earth are here because of unfinished business. Dr. Pincus is followed by ghosts because he can help them leave and finish their business by telling those they left behind how they really felt. In turn helping him to realize the power of simple kindness and love. And let's have a collective AWW right here.

It's good and heartwarming and both painfully awkward and hilarious. This will surely put Gervais on the map over on this side of the pond.