Ghosts Can't Do It

Ghosts Can't Do It, released in 1989, is an unconventional romantic film that treads the line between fantasy and romantic comedy. The movie is directed by John Derek and stars his wife Bo Derek, alongside well-regarded actors Anthony Quinn and Don Murray, in an amusing tale of love, loss, and the extraordinary power of the human spirit.

The story centers around two main characters, Scott and Katie, played by Anthony Quinn and Bo Derek respectively. They are a couple deeply in love, although there is a considerable age difference between them. In a tragic turn of events, Scott - a wealthy, elderly businessman with a weak heart - passes away. As Katie mourns, strangely, their love story doesn't end there.

In an unforeseen twist, Scott is not destined for the afterlife, but rather finds himself stuck in limbo as a ghost. Unable to entirely leave the world, he can communicate with Katie but can't interact physically with the world. This results in amusing, sometimes bittersweet scenes as Scott struggles to accept his new existence, and Katie strives to cope with her loss, while still hearing her husband's voice and feeling his presence around her.

This strange circumstance leads to some intriguing dilemmas, as Scott desires to physically be with Katie, and Katie yearning for the same, inspires the movie's title - Ghosts Can't Do It. The driving plot point for the film is the exploration of what a ghost might do if they could, and the lengths a grieving widow would go to, to reconvene with her dearly departed husband.

In the midst of this, Katie also becomes tangled in a web of corporate deceit and manipulation as she takes over her deceased husband's business enterprise. Don Murray stars as skillful executive Winston, lending his expertise to Katie, while harboring his own unscrupulous intentions. His character adds a hint of suspense and confrontation, bringing a dramatic edge to the storyline.

The film is notable for its rich, brightly coloured cinematography, and the stunningly exotic locations in which it was shot, providing a vibrant backdrop to the deeply emotional and peculiar plotline. It features several intimate scenes, typical of director John Derek's work, that pay homage to Bo Derek's sensuality and beauty, and to the intensity of Scott and Katie's undying love.

Anthony Quinn's performance as Scott is an intriguing blend of insouciance and poignancy; his spectral character sometimes brings humor to the narrative, while also conveying a profound sadness over his circumstance. Bo Derek offers a heartfelt performance, capturing the strength, vulnerability, and tenacity of a woman trying to navigate her life through a series of extraordinary experiences.

Ghosts Can't Do It has critical perspectives ranging from applause for its imagination and off-beat sensibility to criticism for its plot contrivances and risqué sequences. Regardless of polarizing reviews, it holds a unique place in cinema history as an unconventional exploration of love beyond life.

This movie unapologetically delves into the supernatural and surreal, offering an unusual perspective on the traditional romantic narrative. Viewers can expect to embark on an emotionally charged journey interspersed with moments of humor and surprise, in a cinematic experience that certainly steps outside the bounds of what is conventional.

Woven into the story of Ghosts Can't Do It are themes of love that transcends the physical world, the fight for strength and independence in the face of adversity, the manipulative nature of those who seek power, and individual perception of the afterlife. This blend of elements is what makes this film stick in the memory long after the credits roll.

In conclusion, Ghosts Can't Do It is a creative work that marries romance and fantasy in a way few films have done before. Between much-loved actors such as Anthony Quinn and Bo Derek, beautiful cinematographic settings, and a storyline that bounces between the serious and the humorous, this late 80s film provides a unique journey into love and loss.