Ghosts: The Possession Of Button House film review – Spooky-ish fun
The lovable ghouls return with a fresh twist on the small-screen sensation
Award-winning BBC sitcom Ghosts gets the big-screen treatment in this smartly-written if slightly overstuffed tale. Set after the fifth series finale, which saw young parents Alison and Mike (Charlotte Ritchie, Kiell Smith-Bynoe) finally leave the haunted Button House, the ghosts are left kicking their heels. Until a bunch of youngsters break in. After mucking around on a Ouija board, foster kid Jack (Scott Ellis Watson) foolishly invites the spirits in: and that includes everyone’s favourite trouser-less Tory MP, Julian Fawcett (Simon Farnaby).
Soon, Julian is back out in the world (albeit in Jack’s youthful body) and the bemused lad is left with the ghosts. With a subplot surrounding a crooked MP and protestors who are against Button House’s redevelopment, the ‘possession’ theme is cleverly interwoven throughout. Really though, fans will simply be pleased by the chance to hang out with the gang again. Scout master Pat (Jim Howick) is particularly sweet, as he tries to bond with Jack (by doing a rap), while Regency poet Thomas (Mathew Baynton) still yearns charmingly for Alison.
Kitty (Lolly Adefope), caveman Robin (Laurence Rickard), WWI’s The Captain (Ben Willibond) and the prim Lady Fanny (Martha Howe-Douglas) have less to do but remain vividly etched. Director Simon Hynd does his best to juggle them all, and bring a cinematic flair to the film, but with the addition of the kids and protestors (including Fleabag’s Sian Clifford), it’s a little crowded in Button House. Still, it’s a funny and heartwarming film that doesn’t tarnish the show’s gilded reputation.
Ghosts: The Possession Of Button House is in cinemas now.