Casper Meets Wendy (PG)
Hilary Duff's silly spook-fest is good tween fun.
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Seen the movie?
Movie details
- Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
- Directed By: Sean McNamara
- Cast: Teri Garr, Cathy Moriarty, Hilary Duff, Shelley Duvall
- Running Time: 94 minutes
- Release Date: 10/02/1998
- Video/DVD Release Date: 09/03/2002
- Genre: Family and Kids
- MPAA Rating: PG
- MPAA Explanation: mild scary scenes, some thematic elements and language.
Parents need to know
Parents need to know that while no one is injured in this movie, there is a lot of falling, running, jumping, and tripping when people are scared by ghosts. While the tone is usually light, there are also several scenes where the ghosts do things that are scary -- like taking possession of people's bodies and sneaking up on them. Casper's uncles haunt Wendy and her family. In the final showdown, there's lots of screaming and peril and Wendy almost dies.
Families can talk about how Wendy and Casper are more powerful when they work together. How do they learn to share and work together? For kids just getting into scary movies: Do you like to be scared? What was too scary in this movie? What wasn't scary at all?
Families can talk about how Wendy and Casper are more powerful when they work together. How do they learn to share and work together? For kids just getting into scary movies: Do you like to be scared? What was too scary in this movie? What wasn't scary at all?
Message
Social Behavior:
Wendy and Casper are both neglected and picked on by their guardians. Witches and ghosts are also seen as mortal enemies, and they are prejudiced against one another. There's no diversity in the cast.
Consumerism:
Fanny mentions Dairy Queen and Wendy uses a Compaq laptop.
Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:
Violence
There's lots of comic pratfalls, but no one is injured. When scared by the ghosts, various people jump through windows (on low floors), fall over luggage, etc. Josh tries to force Wendy to dance with him, grabbing her arm. One of Wendy's aunts slaps a man's face. Wendy's broom attacks two goons trying to hurt Wendy by hitting them on the head and back. No one is injured. Casper punches a guy out.
Sex
Wendy kisses Casper on the cheek. Wendy and Casper dance, and Wendy flirts with Josh. A guy pinches women's butts.
Language
A lot of insults directed at Casper and Wendy, but no cursing.
Common Sense says
What's the story?
Reviewed by Heather Boerner
In her first film role, Hilary Duff stars as Wendy the Good Little Witch, who lives at home with her three aunts, Geri (Cathy Moriarty), Fanny (Teri Garr), and Gabby (Shelley Duvall). Like Casper (voiced by Jeremy Foley), Wendy gets no respect from her aunts, who don't appreciate her outgoing personality. When power-hungry warlock Desmond Spellman (George Hamilton) discovers that soon his power will be usurped by Wendy when "witches and spirits unite as friends," he sets out to destroy her. So Wendy and her family hide at a resort in the Catskills where -- surprise! -- Casper's family is also staying. When Wendy and Casper meet the fun really begins. But can they really harness their collective power to protect themselves from scary Desmond?
Is it any good?
A lot of Halloween stories are too scary for younger kids, filled with realistic violence or too much intensity. For them, consider CASPER MEETS WENDY, a movie that's as innocent as the two main characters and full of more silly moments than scary ones. While the plot seems to borrow from everything from Men in Black to Harry Potter, it’s still a crazy campy delight that’s generous with the puns and silly sight gags.
George Hamilton plays the evil warlock with comic perfection, and kids who like the sillier moments in the Harry Potter or Sabrina the Teenage Witch will love this. But silliness aside, sensitive kids may still have a tough time when Wendy's in danger near the end.
Other choices
Casper Saves Halloween
R.L. Stine's Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Twitches
R.L. Stine's Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Twitches
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Which fantasy book creature has the best name?
Fluffy (3-headed dog, Harry Potter)
33%
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6 votes