Casper's Haunted Christmas

I watched this all the time during Christmases when I was younger. Then just last Christmas, I hadn't seen it for many years and I thought I'd put it on again, for old time's sake. ...It was bad. I can't believe I actually used to like it so much that I'd watch it over and over again. I feel inclined to give it an even lower rating, like a 3, but I still respect the little kid in me. So 4 will have to do.

I stopped watching Casper since the 1995 film, but that isn't to say I haven't watched Casper in any other media. I've seen some of his cartoons, based on the movie and ones like Spooking About Africa, A Haunting We Will Go, among others. I guess if you've got kids who won't know who Casper is until they've thought of it fondly as they grow older, then you might possibly enjoy it. I found it "O-K" but neither great nor too bad. Then again, I wasn't even paying attention half of the time...

...but yeah, so...

...anyways...

'Casper's Haunted Christmas' goes fully animated, which - if you've seen how bad the partial animation has been in the live-action hybrid follow-ups - was obviously going to lead to a far poorer product.

This 2000 release drags and overstays its welcome and that's despite an ~80 minute run time - it's a very dull film, to look at and to take in. Brendon Ryan Barrett is, despite his best efforts I'm sure, ill-fitting to voice Casper, due to his deeper tone - the character should sound kid-like; interestingly though, Barrett starred as the main child character in 'Casper: A Spirited Beginning'.

I will actually give minute praise for one aspect of the film: the throwaway humour was actually, relatively (!), alright - one or two bits got the slightest of chuckles out of me, to be fair. It doesn't help the production at all, but it's something I guess.

The only interesting thing about these films at this point is the filmmaking company changes. From standouts like Amblin Entertainment and Universal Pictures for the original, to Saban Entertainment and The Harvey Entertainment Company for the initial two follow-ups and now predominantly just the latter for this and the next follow-up. Gotta admire the resilience to keep the series going!

The first time I've heard of this movie was when it was shown in one of the previews in preparations for watching Joseph: King of Dreams when my family used to have it on VHS until we got a double feature of both The Prince of Egypt and Joseph on DVD. Anyway, 17 years later, when I was 20 at the time, I've watched this for the first time when it was on Netflix, during the Christmas season, and I did not like it. Nothing to spoil but as far as I remember it is that some of it confuses me, some was boring, and for the most part, this film knocks off of other Christmas movies that we have seen a billion times, EVEN A CHRISTMAS CAROL!!! Also, the animation wasn't that good.

I watched this movie on TV the other day, and I liked it so much, I bought it online right afterwords. I guess you have to be a Casper fan to want to run out and buy it like I did, but I bet anyone could at least enjoy this movie.

If I had to describe this movie in one word, I'd say it's pretty CUTE. It's nothing amazing, but you have to keep in mind that's it's mainly for little kids, and possibly families with high cuteness tolerance. I think it made an adorable holiday film.

Not many people I know have seen this movie, and before a few weeks ago I'd never even heard of it. And the ones who have seen it say it's stupid, not funny, the animation is horrible, and way too corny.

It may be a bit on the corny side, I admit. But it's for KIDS, and it's Casper, so I expected as much. Of course it comes nowhere near comparing to the 1995 Casper film, but it's one of the better sequels.

Anyway, I'd say it was pretty funny for and not stupid at all. And as far as the animation, I've seen MUCH worse. It's pretty good for what this movie was made for. Better than a lot of the movies you'd find in this one's genre.

Anyway, the worst thing about this movie is there are one or two inconsistencies with the other films and such, but it shouldn't bother you unless you're a complete Casper fanatic.

I'd say it's worth watching, and it comes on television quite a lot during the holiday season, so you've really got nothing to lose, except maybe a couple of hours, and that's only if you don't know how to have any fun.

P.S. The above comments are mine and no one else's. Keep in mind, I'm slightly biased, being a huge Casper fan. But that also means I'd know if it sucked compared to the other movies. If you think 'Ahmahgawd, this sounds great!' and you run out and buy the film, and you think it sucks, you can blame me. And I'm sorry. But don't take the time to sit through an entire children's' film only to pick out what you don't like. Try to have some fun and enjoy yourself. It is Casper, after all.