The ghosts that reside at Button House have now been alone for 112 days following Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) and her family selling the house to be developed into a golf course resort. That is, until some teenagers decide to break in, play with an Ouija board and discover that ghosts can possess human bodies!
For anyone who has not had the pleasure of watching the BBC sitcom Ghosts, created by the comedy troupe Them There, this film continues the story of a group of ghosts who died over several centuries on the grounds of an old manor house and found themselves bound to it. The show is a wonderful comedy gem, and this film succeeds by delivering everything existing fans already enjoy whilst expanding the story enough to warrant the extended running time.
Our ghosts, deprived of Alison and her gift of being able to see and communicate with them, are finding themselves rather bored with no one in the house to watch. Excited by the prospect of the golf course and club bringing new people to the grounds, they are rather perturbed by a group of protesters who might prevent the plans from going ahead. But with one of their number now able to possess a teenage boy, will they be able to enlist Alison’s help?
The film is full of the humour fans will know and love. The romantic poet Thomas (Matthew Baynton) is still madly in love with Alison and desperate for her return. Disgraced MP Julian (Simon Farnaby) gets the opportunity to tell the teenagers to leave Europe, as they are the ones who will benefit! World War II army officer Captain (Ben Willbond) gets to lead a mission again. The pompous Edwardian lady of the manor, Fanny (Martha Howe-Douglas), gets to relax her principles a little further after spending time with the protesters. Scout leader Pat (Jim Howick) gets to show his skills at relating to teenagers. Naive Georgian noblewoman Kitty (Lolly Adefope) gets to perform a dance number. And caveman Robin (Laurence Rickard) falls in love.
Fans, of whom I count myself as one, will be genuinely impressed by how much is packed into the film. Several characters get lovely moments that bring a tear to the eye even as they make you chuckle with warmth. And whilst the laughs might not be raucous, they are constant.
A warm and satisfying return for the team.
