I’m hitting a speed-bump in terms of rom-coms, and the result isn’t pretty; watching The Wedding Planner caused me severe internal issues, and even that was a walk in the park compared to Over Her Dead Body, which recently surfaced on Amazon Prime like the non-dissolvable contents of a septic tank. Bad rom-coms are commonplace, but to create real disappointment, you need real talent, and that’s why writer/director Jeff Lowell’s film is deservedly getting the full-service hate-watch treatment.
Having reflected on the near impossibility of matching Matthew Goode and Amy Adams and getting a complete dud (Leap Year), Lowell manages a similar feat of reverse alchemy that defies logic; here’s Paul Rudd, generally agreed to be a charming, ideal lead by all sexes, matched up with Lake Bell, terrific in her comedy In A World. Put them together and you cannot lose, right?
Nope, you lose bigly, buster, because Over Her Dead Body encourages them to give up the spotlight to the limited comedic talents of Eva Longoria Parker. Parker plays Kate Spencer, killed on her wedding day to Henry (Rudd) by a falling ice-sculpture. In the manner of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit, Kate comes back to haunt her lover, sabotaging Henry’s attempts to find solace with kooky psychic Ashley (Bell). Meanwhile her supposedly gay flatmate (Jason Biggs) waits in the wings with a secret crush on Ashley…
Longoria Parker presumably was something on Desperate Housewives, but her shrill performance here takes some digesting; her goofy styling set the teeth on edge, and unfortunately seem to send a usually reliable cast off in the wrong direction with much gurning and falling about in a terribly strained manner. A last change of heart facilitates a happy ending, although Kate is left in purgatory while the audience are acquainted in no uncertain terms with the environs of hell. My notes here suggest that the highpoints here are a talking parrot and a brief appearance by Sam Pancake; that’s all you get for your money here. At least Bell and Rudd went on to better things and so should you; anyone who dares to leave a positive comment on this review will be thoroughly chastised AND investigated by the authorities. You have been warned.
Wow, I really liked this one……JUST KIDDING!!! Please don’t ban me!
Hardly a subject to joke about. If I thought you were serious about liking this, I’d notify your local social work department and arrange an intervention. Still getting my hazmat suit cleaned after watching Wedding Planner…
Skipping two in a row – that must be some sort of record.
Perhaps not without justification…
Hahahahah. A response to nothing! Even the “streaming-admin” can’t figure out what’s going on.
Pardon the cliche–you nailed it! And we apparently don’t like the same people…Fabulous!
Good. Join the club, or at least let me join yours!
Sounds awful, but I rather fancy the cut of this Mr. Rudd fellow’s jib. He’s got some of my own international flair and charismatic grace. Obviously we have different agents though, as I turned down this role. I only take on parts that really interest me now.
Like the guy from Hills Have Eyes?
Not I, but merely another epigone. I will continue to browse as you hastily consult an online dictionary . . .
I looked you up and it had a picture of the guy from Hills Have Eyes
That could be you! An epigonic sledger!
Either way, Alex still looks like Morph
How very dare you. Nor does he look like Paul Rudd. More like James Marsden I think.
Did you see what Alex just said about you and Booky? Only let it stand under freedom of information. Shocking.
Yep, I saw it, what’s the problem??
Are you 14 as he suggests? The persecution rests.
OK Bunny, are you going for a nana nap?
I don’t mind playing James Marsden . . .
That’s the ticket! I don’t mind being 14 🤣 what an accor the W4 have, well at least 3 of them do!
and before Ol’10 starts, that should have been ACCORD
Right, WP4 disbanded, cruise cancelled, off with the lot of you! Straight reds for all three of you! Bookstodge too! End of.
Pfft.
More Valentines from our romantic Scot! It does make you feel appreciated. The cruise will be a lot of fun.
I know, it’ll be like Captain Pugwash only with us instead.
My point was only that he was imitating my look at the time. I go through phases, like Ziggy. Today people say I remind them of Paul Rudd. Who am I to contradict them?
Morph? The guy from Hills Have Eyes?
Not seeing any “Morph” listed as being in the cast of HHE.
Two different characters. Keep up.
Morph is a character? I think you’re just making all of this up.
He was on an art for kids TV show back in the Jurassic era. https://images.app.goo.gl/xm7o9AxG15KFEHpm7
So was Morph, not just Alex.
That’s the second obtusity you have performed today. Red Card, go and have your nana nap and come back when Mr.Grumblechops is feeling happier.
Is this the sort of thing children watch in the UK? Is he related to Pingu?
They used to, the guy who ran it, Tony Hart is long dead.
but was Paul Rudd wearing a hat and eating onions? That is the REAL question that is on everone’s mind.
Glad you asked, I didn’t dare!
I go where Angels Fear to Tread.
Besides with my Love/War Boat, there’s no where I can’t go now 😀
Look, if Alex is cat fishing fraggle by pretending to be a French Paul Rudd, is there any actual crime here? Or just a mad fantasy shared by deluded individuals?
There’s more than enough catfishing going on here for everyone. Fraggle is a fourteen-year-old trying to get creepy old guys in trouble. Bookstooge is apparently a pirate or buccaneer. You’re either a serial killer or a bunny rabbit. I think I’ve maintained an admirable consistency in character.
Oh, I’ll just let this stand unedited so that the WP4 can see the truth about how you see them…
What is truth?
The truth is you look like Morph, a little baldy man made out of plasticine and spit. That is truth. Deal with it, bunny…
I don’t mind 🤣 reminds me of my salad years.
As long as Alex doesn’t come to America and claim to be French Paul Rudd, he’s committed no crime in my books. He’s welcome aboard the Love/War Boat with open arms. The speedo though, well, I’ll have one of the help have a talk with him.
On the high seas there is only international law! Who would object to my sparkling budgie smugglers?
Well, with our magic Love/War Boat, we can go anywhere we want, even Moscow, or highways. So I’m not sure if we can count on international laws.
* raises hand *
Some things should just remain a mystery….
Well blimey I laughed at the end of the trailer, that guy can do a great prat fall. Other than that, Nope.
Sigh.
What? I noped!!
Blerk!
Sigh.