R.L. Stine's Mostly Ghostly (PG)

Mild tween Halloween tale could use more thrills.

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Movie details

Studio: Universal Studios
Directed By: Rich Correll
Cast: Luke Benward, Ali Lohan, Sterling Beaumon
Running Time: 87 minutes
Release Date: 10/03/2008
Video/DVD Release Date: 09/30/2008
Genre: Family and Kids
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA Explanation: scary images, brief mild bullying, language

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a movie about ghosts who come out of the basement wall. Young children or sensitive viewers might be afraid of the haunted-house feeling of this movie. The ghosts have scary faces and make spooky noises. Phears is a frightening character, even if he tries to be funny.

Families can talk about whether they believe in paranormal events. Should we really be afraid of the dark? How can scary images get into our minds? What's more scary -- a ghost or a bully? Should Max have asked his mom to help him?

Message
Violence
Sex
Language

Message

Social Behavior:

Max is bullied and treated badly. His ghost friends help him repel the bully.

Consumerism:

Some mention of texting instead of studying. A camera phone takes video.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Ghosts make threatening gestures, but these turn into jokes.

Sex

Ali Lohan's character Traci is chosen as Max's assistant because he has a crush on her.

Language

Max and his brother call each other "dork" and "dweeb." Max is called a "loser."

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Joly Herman

Even though his tricks are corny and he trips over his cape, Max Doyle (Sterling Beaumon) wants to be a magician more than anything. And suddenly he happens upon some creepy special effects he never bargained for when a frightening demon named Phears (Brian Stepanek) plans to unlock the tunnel of ghosts on Halloween -- a tunnel which opens in Max's basement. Lucky for Max, two nice ghosts, Tara (Madison Pettis, Cory in the House) and Nicky (Luke Benward), arrive to help foil Phears' plan. An appearance by Ali Lohan as Traci, an attractive upper schooler, motivates Max to make his magic show even cooler -- albeit paranormal. When Halloween rolls around, the tricks and the treats are rolled up into a grand finale.

Is it any good?

R.L. STINE'S MOSTLY GHOSTLY does improve as it progresses, but the first 20 minutes are a disaster. The acting is stagey and the plot is pasted together. As soon as Tara and Nicky show up, things begin to rev up. And the scenes of Max being nerdy at school work better than the scenes at home. Ali Lohan's cameo as Traci feels contrived, but kids are going to enjoy the energy that she brings to the production. It's not great Halloween viewing, but it's not as frightening as other choices out there.