Quick Synopsis: The beloved British sitcom makes the leap to the big screen with a cosy, funny adventure that rewards longtime fans while remaining accessible to newcomers.

I loved the Ghosts TV show. It’s somehow become an international hit, with remakes being produced in America, Australia, Germany, France, Greece, and Czechia. With that kind of success, a film adaptation was almost inevitable. It’s a bit strange, though, as the traditional approach to turning a British TV comedy into a film is to send the main characters on holiday, usually to Spain. But these are all characters tied to a single property, so that’s not really an option.

It does feel bigger, though. Not “massive”; there’s nothing here that theoretically couldn’t have been done on the small screen. There’s no A-list actors involved, no jaw-dropping stunts, and no characters randomly dropping the C-bomb. But it does feel more ambitious. The writers seem to be using the opportunity to tell a longer story with a little more weight, without forgetting that their primary job is to make the audience laugh.

It’s the comedy where the film really succeeds. It has the same sense of humour as the show: silly gags, ridiculous situations, and historical in-jokes. There’s a genuine warmth to it all, too. Even when the characters are being (six) idiots, there’s an affection for them that makes it difficult not to be charmed. I watched this on the same day I saw three other films, and out of all of them, this got the best reaction from the audience. There was loud laughter throughout, and you could feel people anticipating the punchlines as jokes were being set up. I’m hoping this will do well financially. It deserves to.

Will it make sense to those who aren’t familiar with the TV show? I think so. The characters are almost caricatures anyway, so it’s easy to get a sense of their personalities from hearing them speak a single sentence. Yes, you’ll miss out on backstories (like why Pat has an arrow in his neck), but nothing that prevents you from following the story. The one thing newcomers really need to know is that Robin can control electricity if he concentrates. Luckily, the film demonstrates this by having him show newcomer Jack what he can do. I’m glad they didn’t do that with everything, though. We don’t need all the backstories regurgitated to us for the benefit of those new to the franchise.

Newcomers will still find plenty to like, but longtime fans will get even more out of it. They’ll get to see the established character dynamics explored in new ways, without the film constantly stopping to explain things for the benefit of those who haven’t watched the show. There’s no “oh, that’s funny because in episode 2 of the second series he said he’d never do that” or “oh, that’s a major character who disappeared, it’s good to see them back”. Instead, Ghosts trusts its audience to appreciate the little things without making them obstacles for anyone unfamiliar with the show. It’s a balancing act that plenty of adaptations struggle with, but Ghosts manages it without making a big deal out of it.

There’s something rather refreshing about how this doesn’t feel like an attempt to turn Ghosts into something it’s not. It doesn’t suddenly become an action comedy, nor does it feel the need to throw in a celebrity cameo just to generate publicity. Most importantly, it doesn’t abandon the things that made the original series so popular. It’s still Ghosts, just with a little more room to breathe. And honestly, that’s all I really wanted from it.

Sometimes you can describe your feelings towards a film in one word. Wildwood? Incredible. Backrooms? Unsettling. Ghosts? Cosy.

Of course, cosy isn’t necessarily a compliment. As much as I enjoyed this movie, I wouldn’t call it essential viewing. It never comes close to reaching the emotional heights the TV show achieved at its best, either. If this were an episode, it wouldn’t rank among the best. Don’t get me wrong, it wouldn’t be among the worst, either, but it doesn’t quite showcase the full potential of these writers and characters. And as good as some of the jokes are, there are a few moments where the film prioritises comedy over logic. I do appreciate that there’s an MP called “Dick Move”, though.

Ultimately, I came away from this feeling very happy. It’s funny, it’s charming, and it understands that the appeal of Ghosts has never been about the ghosts themselves so much as the personalities, relationships and ridiculous situations that come with them. There’s plenty here for newcomers to enjoy, but if, like me, you’ve spent years watching the television series, it’s a lovely opportunity to spend a little more time with characters you’ve grown rather fond of.