Ghost Dad (1990)
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5% of critics liked it
(19 reviews) -
38% of users liked it
(36,235 ratings)
Bill Cosby mugs so uncontrollably that it looks as if he may be the victim of a muscular disorder in the inane and unfunny Ghost Dad. Cosby plays Elliot, a workaholic widower with three children -- Danny (Salim Grant), Amanda (Brooke Fontainbe), and the teenage Diane (Kimberly Russell). Elliot is… More Bill Cosby mugs so uncontrollably that it looks as if he may be the victim of a muscular disorder in the inane and unfunny Ghost Dad. Cosby plays Elliot, a workaholic widower with three children -- Danny (Salim Grant), Amanda (Brooke Fontainbe), and the teenage Diane (Kimberly Russell). Elliot is hoping to close a big deal that will mean a promotion, more money, and lots of perks, but a cab ride with a freaked-out cab driver causes his untimely demise. Elliot discovers that he is now a ghost and has to learn to spend more time with his kids rather than worry about money and career. Otherwise, after three days, he'll be whisked away into the great beyond. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Directed By
- Sidney Poitier
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
PG,
- In Theaters
- Jun 29, 1990 Wide
- Studio
- MCA Universal Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
Unctuous, flat and phony, a farce that has the pace of a Broadway bus at rush hour.
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Rita Kempley, Washington Post
An earnest premise expounded in Cosby comic style, it goes no deeper than a half-hour of pixilated jollity. But it isn't bad for you.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie doesn't exhibit the slightest attempt to be consistent, logical or sensible in anything, and there are scenes so pointless and unmotivated that attentive audiences will ask what they're doing in the movie.
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Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
Just depressing and incompetently assembled, reaching for a madcap mood of paranormal activity that results in one long headache. I now see why Poitier never directed again and Cosby refused another leading role in a feature film.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
On the big screen Cosby's heartfelt decency continues to come across as blandness.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Bill Cosby
as Elliot Hopper
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Kimberly Russell
as Diane Hopper
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Denise Nicholas
as Joan
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Ian Bannen
as Sir Edith Moser
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Christine Ebersole
as Carol
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Salim Grant
as Danny Hopper
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Barry Corbin
as Mr. Collins
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Brooke Fontaine
as Amanda Hopper
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Dana Ashbrook
as Tony Ricker
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Omar Gooding
as Stuart
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Donzaleigh Abernathy
as E.R. Nurse
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Frank Biro
as Executive
- Jonathan Brandis
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Robert Covarrubias
as Man in Waiting Room
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Patrika Darbo
as Nurse
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Bryant Edwards
as Student #4
- Kenny Ford Jr.
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Raymond E. Foti
as Executive #4
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George Ganz
as Mr. Nero
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Austin Garrett
as Buddy #3
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Meredith Gordon
as Woman in Taxi
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Cindi Gossett
as ER Doctor
- Joseph Hajduk
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Ted Hayden
as Executive #3
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Amy Hill
as Nurse #1
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Adam Jeffries
as Buddy #2
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Douglas Allen Johnson
as Lab Technician
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Becky Katzen
as Student #3
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Kevin Lee
as Student #2
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Dakin Matthews
as Mr. Seymour
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James McIntire
as Sheriff
- Norman Merrill
-
Brian Mitchell
as Teacher
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Jeanne Mori
as I.C.U. Nurse #2
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Jizelle Morris
as Screaming Girl
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Mary Munday
as Executive #1
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Lisa Mene Nemacheck
as Jonelle
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Pamela Poitier
as Nurse Satler
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Robin Pearson Rose
as Hospital Administrator
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Raynor Scheine
as Cabbie
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Cedric Scott
as Announcer
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Arnold Stang
as Mr. Cohen
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Becky Sweet
as Classmate
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Trenton Teigen
as Student
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Rita Vassallo
as I.C.U. Nurse #1
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Nathaniel Merrill
as Executive #2
- Kaleena Kiff
- Nancy Nayor
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Eric Menyuk
as Clinic Doctor
