“The Haunted Mansion” (Walt Disney Pictures)
The Disney Studios have created movies from three attractions at Disney World. They are “The Country Bears Jamboree,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and now “The Haunted Mansion.” “Bears” was a bust, but “Pirates” was a smash. “Mansion” is neither a bust nor a smash. It is just a so-so movie that has some charm but not much.
Eddie Murphy stars in the film as Jim Evers, a Louisiana real estate man. He and his wife Sara (Marsha Thompson) are in business together, but whereas she enjoys selling real estate, he is obsessed by it. Finally she talks him into going away for a weekend with their kids, Michael (Marc John Jeffries) and Megan (Aree Davis).
Before they reach their destination Jim swings the family by a deserted looking mansion which is possibly for sale. There they are met by the Butler who is named Ramsley (Terrence Stamp). He gives them a brief tour of the house and then when the weather turns bad offers them a place to spend the night.
The Master of the house, Mr. Gracey (Nathaniel Parker) seems a little too interested in Sara. When the family gets separated he shows her a picture of a woman named Elizabeth who she looks identical to in every way. He says she is a tragic heroine of the house who was in love with the master but committed suicide.
The longer the family stays at the house the more horror that befalls them. There are ghosts everywhere and a phantom woman’s head located inside a glass bowl. This lady is Madame Leota (Jennifer Tilly) and she does help the family escape from the “haunted mansion.”
Murphy does a routine acting job as Jim. He adds some humor as only he can, but overall it is one of his flattest performances. Thompson is a beautiful woman but a below average actress. Stamp takes the acting awards as the butler, while Parker has his moments as Master Gracey.
Jennifer Tilly is the comic highlight as Madame Leota. Her lines are the best in the film and she shows real sparks as the disembodied oracle. A little more Leota and a little less Murphy would have made for a better movie.
The movie is rated PG for more profanity than a film of this kind should have.
“The Haunted Mansion” probably has enough thrills and humor to keep the kids entertained. It is the adults who will be checking their watches to see when they can check out of this “mansion.” We are getting used to a kinder, gentler Murphy but we also need one who has retained some of his comic timing and exuberance.
I scored “The Haunted Mansion” a creepy 4 out of 10.
