This post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 71. You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE.

So, I just finished watching “Here After” by Harry Greenberger, and oh boy, do I have thoughts! 🤔 First up, let me paint the picture for you. Imagine a rom-com, but with a supernatural twist. Yep, that’s “Here After” for you – think “Ghost” meets “Tinder,” but with less pottery and more awkward dates. It’s a quirky romance with a twist that’ll make you question whether swiping left in the land of the living is better than swiping right in the land of the…well, permanently unliving.

Imagine this: you croak it, shuffle off your mortal coil, and instead of pearly gates or fiery pits, you land in a limbo lounge that looks like a cross between a WeWork and a retirement home disco. That’s where we meet Michael, played by the ever-charming Andy Karl. Michael’s a struggling actor (classic New York story, am I right?) who lived life like a buffet, sampling all the flavors but never committing to a full plate. Now, in the afterlife, he’s facing a cosmic ultimatum: find his soulmate within, like, a week, or fade away into nothingness.

Then enters Nora Arnezeder, portraying the lovely Honey Bee, a bubbly free spirit who’s basically sunshine personified. She’s Michael’s love interest, but here’s the kicker – she’s alive, and he’s, well, not so much. You can see where the complications start to pile up. The whole dynamic between them is a mix of sweet, funny, and just plain weird. It’s like, “Hey, I really like you, but also, I’m dead.” Talk about a complicated relationship status!

The plot weaves through their quirky love story with a bunch of other lost souls thrown into the mix. It’s a wild mishmash of dating in the afterlife, which, by the way, is hilariously portrayed. Think ghostly speed dating – sounds fun, right? But also, slightly terrifying. 😂

The supporting cast is a delightful mishmash of characters, from Michael’s hilariously judgmental guardian angel (played by the always-fantastic Christina Ricci) to a grumpy ghost with a voyeurism addiction (because even in the afterlife, some vices stick). They keep the laughs rolling, even when Michael’s making his patented clueless-guy moves.

I’ve gotta say, the film’s got its moments where you’re wondering if the script is just a collection of philosophical tweets that someone stuck into Final Draft, but that’s totally part of its off-kilter charm. The humor isn’t slap-your-knee hilarious, but it’s got this subtle snark that’s like, okay, I see what you did there.

What really got me was the blend of humor and heart. One moment I’m laughing at Michael’s awkward ghostly encounters, and the next, I’m kinda feeling for the guy. The film does a great job of showing the loneliness and longing that comes with being stuck in-between. It’s like, you want to root for Michael, but also, you’re constantly reminded that he’s a ghost, which is, you know, a bit of a problem when it comes to romance.

Look, “Here After” isn’t going to win any Oscars for groundbreaking originality. The plot has its bumps, the humor leans heavily on slapstick, and the ending might leave you scratching your head a bit. But here’s the thing: it’s FUN. It’s heartwarming, it’s surprisingly thought-provoking (think “what if your biggest regret in life is not finding true love?”). What more could you ask for?

Until next time, stay spooky and swipe right…responsibly.
Roger

P.S. If you haven’t seen the trailer, don’t. It contains major spoilers!