After Henry’s (Paul Rudd) sexy, if demanding, fiancé Kate (Eva Longoria Parker) is killed during an accident with an angelic ice sculpture on their wedding day, the kindhearted veterinarian understandably has trouble moving on. After about a year of this, his wacky sister Chloe (Lindsay Sloane) decides enough is enough, taking her moody big brother to bubby psychic (and closet caterer) Ashley (Lake Bell) in hopes she’ll be able to help him let go.

Eva Longoria Parker and Lake Bell in New Line Cinemas' Over Her Dead Body

Things don’t work especially well at first, but after getting a little help from the dead woman’s diary the sexy soothsayer manages to ease a bit of Henry’s pain, even if the way she’s doing it isn’t entirely ethical. Things get complicated, however, when the two discover they’re slowly falling in love, which proves especially difficult when Kate’s ghost starts vindictively haunting Ashley intent on stopping this burgeoning romance.

There are three things I took away with me after watching the new supernatural romantic comedy Over Her Dead Body. The first is that Paul Rudd is an inspired actor who should be treasured and deserves roles far more equal to his phenomenal talent. The second is that Lake Bell should hopefully someday be a star, the engaging and talented newcomer an effervescent delight whom I absolutely adored. The last is that writer and first-time director Jeff Lowell has no idea how to satisfactorily end his scripts, both this and 2006’s John Tucker Must Die containing third act problems impossible to gloss over.

Granted, there is one more problem with this picture, and even had the filmmaker come up with a workable climax I seriously doubt my opinion would have changed. You see, Kate is as unlikable a character as I’ve ever seen, and watching her attempt to tear apart the lives of Ashley and Henry isn’t exactly fun (let alone entertaining). More, she’s a hellion right from the very first frame, the woman not so much a Bride-zilla as much as she’s a detestable narcissistic egotist, and nothing she does ever made me feel differently about her.

All that said, I certainly give Longoria Parker props for throwing herself into the role with such furiously unadulterated abandon. In a way, this performance is a tad similar to Nicole Kidman’s in the far superior (if equally frustrating) Margot at the Wedding. The actress doesn’t seem to care if audiences hate her, doesn’t seem to want their approval or affection, and even if I didn’t feel it was the right road to take with the character I still can’t help but give the actress credit for being brave enough to go down it anyhow.

There are other issues here, not the least of which is Jason Biggs’ presence as Ashley’s sexually ambiguous best friend. It is almost as if he was added as an afterthought, his whole presence both unnecessary and at times even offensive. It’s like the guy was plucked out of a completely different film, Lowell ultimately leaving him stranded standing on the sidelines probably wondering what the heck is going on. 

On the plus side, Bell and especially Rudd really are terrific and almost make Over Her Dead Body worthwhile all on their lonesome. Their scenes together are simply delightful, and watching the two of them match comedic whit is really rather wondrous. I just wish it were enough to save the picture, even a rather original and surrealistic giddy stretch featuring Longoria Parker, Rudd and a rhythmically chanting parrot not enough to keep me interested in the eventual lovey-dovey, if lifeless, outcome.

Film Rating: êê (out of 4)

Additional Links:

-  Interview with Eva Longoria Parker by Sara Michelle Fetters
-  Over Her Dead Body Theatrical Trailer