Over Her Dead Body (2008)

Over Her Dead Body is the kind of breezy, high-concept rom-com that lives or dies on charm—and thanks to Paul Rudd’s wounded sweetness, Lake Bell’s scrappy likability, and Eva Longoria having a blast as the world’s most possessive third wheel, it’s surprisingly easy to enjoy. The movie’s special trick is how it turns grief and moving on into a playful supernatural tug-of-war, keeping the vibe light and sitcom-snappy even when the premise flirts with the morbid. There’s an easy, glossy mid-2000s studio-comedy comfort to it, with a few genuinely funny stretches that come more from the cast’s timing than from big punchlines. It’s not for everyone—if you need razor-sharp jokes or airtight logic, you may roll your eyes—but if you’re on the fence and want something watchable, warm, and unpretentiously silly, this one goes down easy.

Over Her Dead Body is aiming for a breezy supernatural rom-com where grief, jealousy, and moving on get filtered through goofy ghost sabotage. The problem is the comedy often lands with a thud—more strained slapstick than sharp wit—and the tone wobbles between sincere mourning and sitcom antics in a way that can feel awkward instead of charming. Paul Rudd and Lake Bell do what they can, and Eva Longoria commits to the premise, but the chemistry and pacing aren’t strong enough to sell the central romance or the chaos around it. If you’re in the mood for lightweight, slightly dated mid-2000s studio comedy, you might coast along; if you want consistent laughs or a genuinely swoony rom-com, this is likely to test your patience.