M. Dean

Seemingly without effort, director Don Davis and lead actress Simone Griffeth reach out and lay hands on that flawless sincerity that overrated hacks like Goddard can only pretend to. Griffeth's Janeen is laid bare before us -- emotionally naked -- as the young actress gives herself to the audience completely, rawly, almost desperately.

Also notable is country singer Ferlin Husky, cast here as a good hearted swamp ranger. Husky lends his character an earthy honesty, a sun-wrinkled gentility that only just covers his own scars. He seems to help Janeen in a thinly disguised effort to purge away the acid pain that eats him from the inside every day.

This film has taken an unflinching grip on something living, something grand.

There is a moment in this film when Justin Whalin's character tries to get Amy Jo Johnson's character (the film's namesake ghost) to stop following him everywhere. No one can see or hear the ghost but him, and because of this she won't leave him alone. Walking along a sidewalk with the ghost on his heels, the boy abruptly whirls and tells her enough is enough, leave him alone. He tries to soften the blow by saying that ordinarily he'd be thrilled to have a beautiful girl following him around.

"Do you really think I'm beautiful?" the ghost replies, in a small and trembling voice. For that single moment I saw what the film had the potential to be. The tragedy of Johnson's character, a non-person stuck in a world that has no place for her, is momentarily brought into sharp focus as she reacts to this connection with the living boy.

However, the film does little to expand on this theme, instead preferring dime-store sentimentality and slapstick comedy. The film is still decent entertainment for the kids, and the two leads have enough sex appeal to keep the adults in the room for awhile. However, it's a shame the filmmakers didn't have the courage to delve a little deeper.

After seeing the short film "Slow Bob in the Lower Dimensions," I filed away the name Henry Selick as one to watch. This work is an ambitious and intriguing mixture of animation techniques, and the results are both whimsical and surreal. The background music, carefully composed by the Residents, augments the visuals seamlessly. "Slow Bob" is worthwhile viewing for Selick fans and animation fans in general.