Critic's Grade: A-

A lovingly crafted exercise in special effects craftsmanship, "Casper" not only astounds with its seamless visuals, but radiates with a warm, well-told story at its core. The long-dormant character of Casper the Friendly Ghost (voiced by Malachi Pearson) hits the big screen with his sullen persona well intact; all he wants is a friend. Through sheer chance he learns of the practice of Dr. James Harvey (Bill Pullman), a so-called "therapist to the dead" who specializes in treating spirits with unfinished business, who also happens to have a loner teenage daughter, Kat (Christina Ricci). Dr. Harvey's unique methods also catch the eye of Carrigan Crittenden (Cathy Moriarty), the greedy owner of Casper's own Whipstaff Manor who wants only to locate the rumored treasure hidden there. The only problem is, Casper's three uncles- Stretch, Fatso, and Stinky (Joe Nipote, Joe Alaskey, and Brad Garrett)- have no reason to leave, and once the "fleshies" start invading their domicile, things reach the family comedy breaking point.

What could have easily ended up being a mere technical exercise is actually a genuinely funny film punctuacted by animated characters of great humor and wit. The three uncles, who call themselves "The Ghostly Trio," are constructed both visually and audibly in a manner that adds personality to their characters, amazingly so at times. Their integration into the live-action footage is handled with care, making their interactions with the live actors convincing and uproarious. Pullman and Ricci deliver sufficient performances, while Moriarty steals the show with her devilishly gleeful villain, with funnyman Eric Idle in tow as her goofy assistant. Director Brad Silberling, in his feature debut, balances the humor and the heart of the story with sensitivity and attention to what works best in the film's favor, and the various homages throughout the picture (Casper watching an episode of the old cartoon series, Dan Aykroyd in a cameo as a Ghostbuster) are not to be missed. In the end, "Casper" ranks as a ghoulishly good time at the movies.

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