Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

This review has been a long time in the works. i wrote reviews on "Casper" and "Casper Meets Wendy" a couple months ago and then got side-tracked and ended up being unable to write it for a while.

The reason I say this is not a beginning movie is because it was at least the second Casper movie. Also the three Casper movies that I know exist are not at all linear. None of them have the same live action settings or characters and some of the information is contradictory from one to the next. For instance, in this Casper movie, Casper gets thrown off the train to ghostland and somehow ends up in a place called Deedstown. In the first movie however, he dies and ends up right in the house he grew up in. In short they are all three very different movies and do not need to be and probably should not be seen in any sort of order or even all in the same day.

The plot....

As I said, Casper dies and is on a ghostly train to the underworld when one of his fellow ghosts throws him off the train into Deedstown. He then takes up residence with a ghostly trio in the old Applegate Mansion. Meanwhile Casper also befriends the ten-year-old son of the man (Steve Guttenberg) who is trying to get the mansion torn down. Now if this wasn't coincidental enough for you then don't worry, I'm not through. Also the boy's teacher (Lori Laughlin of "Full House" is the activist trying to save the mansion!

The story chronicle's the boy, Chris, and his fight to be accepted by his workaholic father and the school kids when he is the only one that believes in ghosts. Eventually this leads him to trouble when the school children lock him inside the mansion.

Plot gaps and questionable details....

It's never fully understood how the boy's mother died. I feel that understanding this might have enhanced the experience and made it more clear how and why the father and son do what they do.

Also there's the matter of the "uncles." In the old Casper cartoon I believe they were just the "Ghostly Trio" but in the three Casper movies they seem to be referred to as Casper's uncles OR "Ghostly Trio" almost at will! I would like it if they'd pick one and stick with it!

Good points......

Lori Laughlin and Steve Guttenberg do well in their respective roles. Ms. Laughlin points a measure of caring and compassion into her part while Mr. Guttenberg does exactly what he's supposed to, remains somewhat uncaring, which is exactly who his character is...until the end of the story anyway.

Also, I enjoyed the cameo appearances by Ben Stein and Sherman Hemsley. The first as a scared (yes Ben Stein can do a convincing scared scene!) pedestrian and the second as a shop owner who Casper rescues from a robber.

The humor and special effects are quite interesting as well. I particularly liked a certain scene where Chris is being harassed by bullies in a library. Watch for a globe and a fire extinguisher. Also in the very beginning of the movie the scene where Casper falls off the train is well done.

In short, of the three this is my second favorite...a close second to "Casper." I pretty much hate "Casper Meets Wendy" but that's just my perspective. I strongly suggest that before you see any of the three you read all three of my reviews and do a little research.



Recommended: Yes

Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8