Movie Review by Nigel A. Messenger
Starring: Cheech Marin, Anthony Edwards, Linda Fiorentino, Trenton Knight
Director: Anthony Edwards
Charlie McCammon is a young boy who after living with his grandparents for 6 months while his archaeological father had been away on a dig, moves back to his home town to find his father has moved their home to a new house. There is a new maid and a new neighbourhood that brings a gang of bullies into the picture plus a young girl that Charlie must protect.
There is also the ghost of a Spanish soldier (Cheech Marin) to contend with whom only Charlie can see, who wants Charlie to steal the bones excavated by Charlie’s father, and bury them on hallowed ground so he can finally go to heaven.
CHARLIE’S GHOST is probably aimed at the 7 to 12 years old age group. It will no doubt make a child of this age jump a little in occasions, but children will tend to enjoy this, as it’s not too scary. The trouble with this movie is that it’s very slow going and kids definitely won’t like that. Cheech Marin is very good as the ghost of the Spanish soldier and the children come across well. As for the rest of the acting, well let’s just say it doesn’t do very much for anyone.
If your children have a lot of patience it may just about entertain.
