Casper 1995

Caryn James, New York Times: Casper's movie is not the cleverest one around, but its hero may be the most lovable. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: It's not clear why Steven Spielberg's Amblin decided to make a live-action entertainment starring the least interesting and most saccharine of all 50s cartoon characters. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: A fairy tale with the soul of a rerun. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Without the talent of Ricci, Casper would have been a truly barren motion picture. As it is, it's still not very good. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: As a technical achievement, it's impressive, and entertaining. And there is even a little winsome philosophy. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: This doesn't usually happen to me, but 15 minutes before the end of Casper I suddenly realized that if I didn't take a deep breath, I was going to start sobbing. Read more

Wally Hammond, Time Out: The set design, however, merely disguises what is in fact an intimate and likeable picture. Read more

Brian Lowry, Variety: Once the audience has become inured to the wide-eyed protagonist and impressive digitized effects, there's little sense of wonder or awe to be found. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: The horror, the horror. Read more

Rita Kempley, Washington Post: As expected, it features extra-spectral effects, slews of celebrity guest shots and splendidly decorated sets. For all of that, though, the film is duller than a dead man's eyes. Read more