Casper (PG, 1995)

Motherless Kat Harvey (Christina Ricci) and her father (Bill Pullman), a psychologist who helps spirits complete their journey onto death, move into Whipstaff Manor. The nasty Carrigan Crittenden has hired the doctor to rid her recently inherited property of its ghosts so she can hunt for the treasure hidden somewhere within its walls. One of the ghosts, Casper, develops a crush on Kat, while his rowdy ghost uncles make life comically difficult for everyone. When the Harveys throw a Halloween party, Kat and Casper discover a "resurrection machine" built by Casper's father, as well as the "treasure." Carrigan wants the machine for her wicked plans, and eventually there's a mad chase about the house, and in and out of spirit worlds. In the end, Casper faces a tough choice: his life, or Dr. Harvey's?

Viewers on the younger side should find the haunted house in CASPER pretty cool. Great special effects and fine acting should entertain 9- to 12-year-olds, who may also like the mild romance between Casper and Kat, but teens will find the scares too mild and the tone too sentimental at times.

That said, the relationship between Kat and her father is genuinely sweet. Cathy Moriarty as Carrigan is enjoyably Cruella de Vil-ish, and sidekick Dibs (Monty Python's Idle) has funny moments. Cameos by Don Novello as the exorcist, Father Guido Sarducci, and Dan Aykroyd as Ghostbusters' Dr. Ray Stantz are good in-jokes. The Victorian Gothic set -- with a nifty revolving panel and roller-coaster-ride to the basement -- is indeed cool.

Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Brad Silberling
Cast: Ben Stein, Bill Pullman, Christina Ricci
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release: May 26, 1995
DVD release: September 23, 2003
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: mild language and thematic elements.