Scott LeBrun
Peter O'Toole is a hoot as the harried owner / operator of a run-down Irish castle. Since he is in dire straits financially, he decides on a gimmick: turn the castle into a ghost-themed tourist attraction. Soon, a bunch of customers from America have turned up, including married couple Jack and Sharon (Steve Guttenberg and Beverly D'Angelo), a parapsychologist (Martin Ferrero) and his family, a young priest (Peter Gallagher), and a ditsy sexpot (the one and only Jennifer Tilly). What happens is that some honest-to-God real ghosts show up, chief among them Mary and Martin (Daryl Hannah and Liam Neeson), who have been re-enacting his murder of her for almost 200 years now.While this viewer is glad that some people do take great pleasure in "High Spirits", he found it a tedious mess often lacking in wit. It has a lot of spirit (pardon the expression) as it devises various frantic and farcical moments, but the material just isn't that great. I couldn't help but feel embarrassed for many of the actors, who frequently have to try too hard to make it all work. (The cast would charge that the producers were the ones that ruined the thing with their meddling and trashing of writer / director Neil Jordans' ("The Crying Game") good intentions.) The visual effects are variable, and production designer Anton Furst ("Batman" '89) creates some generally agreeable sets. A real castle in Ireland was also utilized, and there's some effective atmosphere generated from the location shooting that was done. The wind machine certainly goes full-blast at times.Some actors come off better than others. O'Toole, Neeson, and Ray McAnally (as O'Tooles' ghostly father) are pretty amusing, and as you can see, there are some very lovely ladies on hand. The less said about Guttenberg, the better.Overall, a disappointment, although it does tend to get somewhat better as it goes along.Four out of 10.
xpedro-580-714685
Well, this is one of my all time favorites! It has not a complex story line, it's easy to watch, and easy to fall in love with the scenarios, the ambiance and the cast. Speaking of the castle, this movie earns great marks for it: the decoration of the sets it's brilliant, and gives a wonderful mood, and the outdoors are really beautiful. Daryl fits the part very well, although sometimes she looks like having too much make up on. With a hand full of good actors, a gorgeous soundtrack and sets that my dreams are made of, i can say that i watch this movie countless times (pretty sure more than 1000 times)and I recommend to be seen on a rainy afternoon, with dimmed lights and the fireplace on!
Dunham16
This tongue in cheek horror movie contains elements of romantic comedy. The failed proprietor of a run down castle in Ireland attempts to save the property by inventing a haunting aura for tourists. The phoney props do not work and the tourists revolt. This uprising annoys the ghosts actually inhabiting the castle who stage a genuine haunting for Hallowe'en. Some serious horror is mixed into a fantasy plot ending with two mixed couples, one an eighteenth century ghost the other an American tourist. There are well done elements of romance, of comedy horror spoof, of physical comedy, of nostalgic Ireland and of genuine horror creating a well acted mix which pleases throughout.v
