HIGH SPIRITS is one in a plethora of '80s-era comedy spook shows, accompanied by the likes of HAUNTED HONEYMOON, GHOSTBUSTERS, and THE 'BURBS. This is the least of those mentioned, purely because it's not particularly funny. If you like watching actors overact like crazy and run around like headless chickens all over the set then maybe this film is for you, but I prefer a little more restraint in my comedies. HIGH SPIRITS is an odyssey of dated effects work, slapstick gags, and a convoluted ghost romance plot that doesn't really go anywhere.

The plot is straightforward stuff indeed, with the owner of an ailing hotel in Ireland (Peter O'Toole, phoning it in) deciding to turn his business into a haunted castle in order to drum up some trade. The story then follows the misadventures of a busload of American tourists who soon discover that the castle is populated by some very real ghosts that don't take kindly to their trespassers.

As is usual with these '80s comedies, the cast is an involved bunch and one of the best things about the story. I'm no fan of Daryl Hannah, but Liam Neeson is fun in an early role as a ghost, and Steve Guttenberg is a dependable lead type. Beverly D'Angelo is very funny as his wife, but it's people like Martin Ferrero, Connie Booth, Peter Gallagher, and Jennifer Tilly who are among the funniest members of the supporting cast. A shame they're not utilised to better advantage.

Peter Plunkett (Peter O'Toole) is the drunk owner of a rundown Irish castle turned hotel. He needs to come up with the money in three weeks or else he will be foreclosed and the castle moved to Malibu. With his annoying mother's stories of ghosts, he gets his ragtag group of workers to haunt the castle for the arriving Yank tourists. Among the Americans are Jack (Steve Guttenberg) and wife Sharon Crawford (Beverly D'Angelo),Brother Tony (Peter Gallagher) before he takes his vows, Miranda (Jennifer Tilly) who has swore off men, Malcolm (Martin Ferrero) and his loud annoying family. The haunting efforts are amateurish but then the real ghosts show up. Sharon's father holds the mortgage and she's eager to disprove the ghosts. On the other hand, Jack falls for the beautiful ghost Mary (Daryl Hannah). Mary was killed by her husband Martin Brogan (Liam Neeson) and they are both forced to relive the moment. A drunken Jack breaks the moment.

This could have been a fun little British romp about a bunch of local misfits trying to make a haunted castle. It has the potential to do that but the more Hollywood it gets, the less fun it becomes. The movie concentrates too much on the Americans. The more wacky the movie tries to be, the less funny it actually is. It's a funhouse without the fun. This is written and directed by Neil Jordan. It's possibly the low point of his career. Broad comedy isn't his thing.

The proprietor of a run-down British castle unleashes the long dormant ghosts of his odd family when he creates a phony facade of spirits. Veteran star Peter O'Toole gives a charming performance as the owner with the wonderfully eccentric Liz Smith as his dotty mother, the only person aware of the ghosts. That is until snooty Beverly D'Angelo arrives with the intention of claiming it. Her neglected husband (Steve Guttenberg) begins to see a ghostly murder repeated over and over, and his interference changes the course of history at the castle. Harmless fun, this popcorn film is a modern day "Canterville Ghost" that has plenty of laughs, a lot of romance, and a few scares. Handsome Peter Gallagher (as a priest who has not taken his final vows) and vinegary voiced Jennifer Tilly appear in smaller roles that serve no purpose although the flying bed that Tilly is on ended up on the original poster.

I discovered Liz Smith (no relation to the famous New York columnist) in the late 80's when she made a slew of British produced movies released to American audiences, and fell absolutely in love with her. She reminded me of a slightly classier Hermoine Baddley. Gorgeous Darryl Hannah and rugged Liam Neeson are excellent as the ghosts who surprisingly find love with the mortals haunting their ancestral home. D'Angelo, one of the wonders of the 80's (because I always wonder what happened to her until I investigated after seeing this movie again!),is beautiful, snooty, imperious, funny, and riveting. The only acting disappointment for me was Guttenberg whose acting style seems oddly out of place from the rest of the cast. While this will be greatly compared to other supernatural comedies such as "Beetlejuice" and "Hocus Pocus" (as well as the disastrous "Haunted Honeymoon"),it is still fun on its own merits.