“Over Her Dead Body” Starring: Eva Longoria Parker, Paul Rudd, Lake Bell Directed by: Jeff Lowell

out of

You know something’s wrong with a film when even Paul Rudd’s witty humor can’t save it. One film he can’t begin to revive is “Over Her Dead Body.”

As the film begins, Kate (Eva Longoria Parker) and Henry (Paul Rudd) are making last minute arrangements for their wedding that day. Kate is demanding and picky about everything, so when the long-anticipated angel ice sculpture is presented, she’s horrified that it lacks wings.

After an unnecessarily long dispute between Kate and the sculptor (Stephen Root), he agrees to make a new one. Backing out of the driveway, he slams on the breaks to avoid hitting Kate, causing the sculpture to fall and crush her to death.

Poor Kate, crushed by an angel. Are we really supposed to buy this as a realistic cause of death?

Luckily, that’s the lowest point in the film, although things don’t get much better. Now, the ghost of Kate is in a state of limbo and full of anger as she tries to sabotage Henry’s new relationship with Ashley (Lake Bell).

Henry, a vet, is introduced to the psychic vet Ashley by his sister, who hopes that Ashley might contact Kate’s spirit and help Henry move on. Instead of providing closure for Henry, the session opens up the opportunity for Kate to execute her plan – haunting Ashley until she leaves Henry alone. From the very beginning, every part of the plot is outrageous and impossible to believe. Even a lot of the scenes are too ridiculous to comprehend and drag on for way too long.

“Over Her Dead Body” is Longoria’s first leading film role (she stars as Gabi on ABC’s hit show “Desperate Housewives”), and this is quite obvious. First of all, she should have walked away from this film in the beginning. And second, she should learn to take on different roles. Kate and Gabi are essentially the same character – they’re selfish, whiny, picky and attention-seeking. Any versatility Longoria has as an actress doesn’t come through here.

Although his role is small, Jason Biggs deserves some credit. Even though his role as Ashley’s assistant chef is over-the-top, he does inspire laughs.

When Ashley leaves him alone to tend to the cooking, he screws everything up, causing the smoke alarm to go off, burning himself and dancing around the kitchen in pain.

As for Paul Rudd, he has definitely chosen better films. Yet, audiences will be thankful for providing a backbone to the flimsy storyline. His timing is impeccable, as always, and he delivers his lines with ease, never forcing anything on the audience.

He and co-star Bell seem perfect for each other, both onscreen and off. She is charming, cute and irresistible with soft, girl-next-door femininity.

Together, she and Rudd capture our attention with laughter, hoping to distract us from the rest of the dreadful spectacle that is “Over Her Dead Body.” To say that death is a favorable alternative to watching this film might be taking it too far, but to put it plainly – avoid this film at all costs.