Synopsis
 Connor Mead loves freedom, fun and women: in that order. A committed bachelor with a no-strings policy, he thinks nothing of breaking up with multiple women on a conference call while prepping his next date. Connor’s brother Paul is more the romantic type. In fact, he’s about to be married. Unfortunately, on the eve of the big event, Connor’s mockery of romance proves a real buzz-kill for Paul, the wedding party and a houseful of well wishers: including Connor’s childhood friend Jenny, the one woman in his life who has always seemed immune to his considerable charm. Just when it looks like Connor may single-handedly ruin the wedding, he gets a wake-up call from the ghost of his late Uncle Wayne, the hard-partying, legendary ladies man upon whose exploits Connor has modeled his lifestyle. The ghosts of Connor's jilted girlfriends, past, present and future will be visiting him.
What Do The Critics Say
"For a comedy that doesn't require a lot of heavy thinking, it tries hard not to dumb things down too much, nor skimp on character or storytelling either."
Edward Douglas COMINGSOON
"Kind of cute ... it never takes itself too seriously and is filled with deliciously cheesy lines."
Steve Rhodes INTERNET REVIEWS
"It's smart, charming, sticky sweet in places, and it's got a bit more of a bite to it than most romantic comedies."
Rebecca Murray ABOUT.COM
"Despite being foolish in most respects, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past keeps you on its wacky rom-com narrative train all the way to the end."
Mike Russell OREGONIAN
"I'm almost embarrassed to admit I found Ghosts of Girlfriends Past the season's first genuine guilty pleasure."
Lou Lumenick NEW YORK POST
"Jennifer Garner is sweet and radiant as McConaughey's childhood friend and former lover; Lacey Chabert steals scenes as the woman marrying McConaughey's brother; and Robert Forster and Anne Archer are good as her parents."
Andrea Gronvall CHICAGO READER
"Carves out a little place for itself as one of the few romantic comedies of 2009 that doesn't annoy or insult the viewer's intelligence."
Dustin Putman THE MOVIE BOY
"Conor has the flamboyant confidence of a matador, but McConaughey draws out the right amount of sleaze and tenderness to transform Conor from a bullfighter to a rodeo clown."
N.V. Cooper E!ONLINE
"Despite my McConaughey resistance I got more guilty chuckles from Ghosts of Girlfriends Past than Failure to Launch or Four Christmases."
Michael Phillips CHICAGO TRIBUNE
"It actually has a couple of qualities few modern romantic comedies possess: it's romantic and quite funny."
Annette Basile FILMINK
"You've got to love a movie that so eagerly assassinates its leading man's cuddly image, and which also manages to blow a wicked kiss to Fatal Attraction."
Peter Howell TORONTO STAR
The Inside Story
The last place on earth anyone would expect to find celebrity photographer Connor Mead, would be at a wedding. More to the point, that last place would certainly be his own wedding, although it’s tough enough to imagine him overcoming his allergy to matrimony long enough to attend anyone else’s big day. But this is different. It’s his brother’s wedding, and for Paulie’s sake alone Connor is willing to make the trek from his high-style New York City life to the Newport, Rhode Island home of his childhood, where the ceremony is scheduled to take place at their late Uncle Wayne’s lavish estate. Connor is expecting to be a little uncomfortable with the festivities, but that’s OK; it’s just one weekend. What he is not expecting is how he will feel when he comes face to face with his former flame Jenny Perotti. "Connor is used to being the confident guy, charming and funny, kind of edgy and always at the top of his game. He’s really not out to hurt anyone, he just wants to have a good time. But he’s also a guy who has lost his way and doesn’t know it. He’s been playing this role so long he doesn’t even realize that in the end it’s a lonely path," says 2006 People's Choice Award winner Matthew McConaughey (Favorite Male Action Star), who was cast as the story’s perennial bachelor. "Seeing Jenny again would be his first clue," suggests director Mark Waters ("Mean Girls"). Beautiful, smart and self-assured, Jenny could have been the best thing that ever happened to Connor: if he hadn’t walked out on her years ago. Now the maid of honor, she is all business when it comes to her ex, determined that nothing: and no one, will mar this very special occasion, and that means putting Connor on notice in case he’s planning anything that would take the focus off the happy couple. "Having experienced the Connor Mead treatment, Jenny has no patience for him," 2006 People's Choice Award winner Jennifer Garner (Favorite Female Action Star) affirms. "They were best friends as kids and really meant something to each other, then reconnected and dated as adults but, by then, he was well on his way to becoming a world-class playboy and totally disappointed her. He nearly ruined her faith in men. When they are reunited at the house there are definitely sparks flying but not necessarily the good kind." Waters views Jenny as "a combination of the girl next door and the one who got away, with a touch of something else that Connor can’t quite pin down. There’s a rich history between them and the sense that Jenny knows Connor in a way that no other woman ever will. For all her disappointment in what he has become, she knows the real Connor is better than that; consequently she calls him on his games and puts him in his place. Matthew and Jennifer really tap into that sparring rhythm and that undercurrent of competition that’s a carryover from Connor’s and Jenny’s childhood together." "Jenny is the kind of woman we all hope to have in our lives, someone who sees us for who we really are and can bring out the best in us," says producer Jon Shestack ("Air Force One"), who credits Garner with giving Jenny "the vulnerability and intelligence that conveys, despite her sharp words, the sadness she feels for Connor and how empty his life has become." Producers Brad Epstein describes Connor as the kind of guy who, for "all his popularity and success, he is completely shut down emotionally. Afraid of love. He could have the greatest thing in the world in front of him but he’s not going to see it. He can’t see the forest through the trees."
But Connors shallow life is about to be turned upside down by a visitor: his Uncle Wayne, played by two time Oscar winner Michael Douglas (Best Picture 1976 - "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" & Best Actor 1988 - "Wall Street"). Problem is, Uncle Wayne has been dead for five years. "Michael Douglas struck the perfect note, giving the ol’ scoundrel the kind of swagger that owns a room and a charm that makes you think he could get away with doing or saying pretty much anything. Wayne is a sentimental throwback; the eternal player, eternally cool," says Waters (who directed Lindsay Lohan in 2003's "Freaky Friday"). "I felt Michael could make him likeable, just as I felt that Matthew could make Connor likeable even though they’re two of the most politically incorrect roles in recent memory. They let you see the heart underneath. Although, I think in Wayne’s case you’d have to look especially hard." "Uncle Wayne taught Connor everything bad he ever learned about relationships, which was, essentially, not to care for any woman, to just have a good time and move on. It was the way Wayne conducted his own life, but, at the time, it was also intended to protect Connor from getting his heart broken," 2001 Golden Satellite Award winner Douglas ("Wonder Boys") says. "Seeing Wayne now, you get the sense that he didn’t really want to end up the way he did. He realizes the mistakes he made in his life and is trying to save Connor from repeating them." To sort out his nephew, Uncle Wayne sends him three visitors: The Ghost of Girlfriends Past; The Ghost of Girlfriends Present and, The Ghost of Girlfriends Future. Now if that sounds a little familiar: it is. But don't worry about it, because the premiss still works as well as it has over the years beginning with "Scrooge" in 1935; "A Christmas Carol" in 1938; "Scrooge" in 1953 and the TV versions of "A Christmas Carol", featuring 1971 Oscar winner George C Scott ("Patton") in 1984 and four time Emmy Award winner Kelsey Grammer ("Frazier") in 2004. Emma Stone ("Superbad") was cast as The Ghost of Girlfriends Past, fresh out of the 1980s, sporting braces, with her denim and lace ensemble and hair out to there: sixteen year old Allison Vandermeersh. 2008 Young Hollywood Award winner Stone (who playes Natalie in "The House Bunny") enjoyed pulling out all the stops as Allison, whom she describes as "a firecracker. Allison is essentially a kind of hallucination, permanently stuck in the exact moment when she first crossed paths with Connor, meaning she’s still in that crazy sixteen year old state and very excitable." Noureen DeWulf ("American Dreamz") was cast as Melanie: The Ghost of Girlfriends Present. Technically, Melanie isn't a girlfriend, she's actually Connor's long serving assistant. That qualifies her for the position as The Ghost of Girlfriends Present by default: after all, she's seen first hand, the endless parade of women Connor has wooed. "She’s not exactly thrilled with the assignment," DeWulf explained. "He already works her way too much and now she has to freelance for him on the weekend as a ghost? It’s so typical." The scariest by far, is The Ghost of Girlfriends Future, a silent ethereal beauty played by stunning Ukrainian Super Model Olga Maliouk. This ghost offers Connor a glimpse into what his life will become if he continues to reject real love. "The ghost element was a great device for introducing the time traveling, and it really opened up the storytelling potential," says McConaughey ("Sahara" & "Tropic Thunder"). In contrast to Connor and Jenny, Paul and his fiancée Sandra are the picture-perfect, couple: "a match made in heaven," says Breckin Meyer (TV'S "Heroes" and "House").
2009 Annie Award winning writer Myer (who also voices Joseph Gribble in "King of the Hill"), plays the groom to be. He notes: "Paul is made for monogamy. He believes in love. He really wants to be with Sandra for the rest of his life. As it turns out, the only family he has on his guest list is Connor, and that’s the one person who really shouldn’t be at a wedding." "Paul provides an interesting contrast to Connor. Initially, he’s the heart to Connor’s lothario. At first glance they appear to have nothing in common but their similarities and their connection as brothers emerge as the story develops," screenwriter Jon Lucas ("Four Christmases" a.k.a "Four Holidays") suggests. "It’s a hint of Connor’s humanity and potential when you see how much he loves his brother," adds screenwriting partner Scott Moore. ("The Hangover") "If he’s capable of committing to that wholeheartedly and if someone as decent as Paul supports him, well, maybe he’s not such a lost cause." "Mean Girls" star Lacey Chabert, was cast as bride to be, Sandra. With Connor around, she's facing a meltdown. "She’s not teetering on the brink of Bridezilla for the sake of being difficult. She’s really a nice girl, just emotional and under pressure. She’s been planning this wedding since she was four years old and wants everything to be perfect. For Paul’s sake, she’s glad his only brother can be there, but from the instant Connor arrives she knows he’s going to be trouble." Her father, Sergeant 'Sarge' Major Volkom (U.S. Marine Corps, Retired), is played by 2000 Hamptons International Film Festival Award winner, Robert Forster. Not only is he the father of the bride, he is also officiating as the Minister. Not a man to mess with, Meyer quips, "A father in law you have to respect is one thing; a father in law you have to salute is terrifying. The Sarge is incredibly soft and sweet with his little Sandra, but you know he’s prepared to break Connor’s neck if he goes too far." Miss Golden Globe 1971 (and still gorgeous) Anne Archer ("Trackdown"), was cast as the Sarge’s former better half, Vonda. "She’s definitely a femme fatale, the kind of woman who feels sexy at any age, which is something you still don’t see very often in films and is really refreshing," the 1993 Vienice Film Festival Volpi Cup winning actress ("Short Cuts") said. Daniel Sunjata ("The Devil Wears Prada") was cast as the eminently eligible Brad, a perfect anti-Connor type whom Sandra hopes to match with Jenny. "Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past" marks production designer Cary White's sixth collaboration with the Waters and their fourth film collaboration ("Just Like Heaven", "Mean Girls" & "Freaky Friday"). The two considered a lot of real estate before settling upon what was to became the Mead Mansion. They decided on an existing mansion in Ipswich known as the Crane Castle. Crane Castle provided the exteriors and some interiors of Uncle Wayne’s old haunt. Built by architect David Adler in 1928 for the Crane family, the fifty nine room Stuart-style mansion is now a National Historic Landmark in Massachusetts. Films fans may recognize it as the site of devilish mayhem in "The Witches of Eastwick" and as the imposing home in "Flowers in the Attic". The team filmed inside the Great House and utilized its rear patio, embellished with fake columns and entablature. White also temporarily installed a circular driveway and statuary over an existing lawn. Other interiors, including the library and ballroom, were created at what White calls "a derelict mansion in Wellesley that was in really bad shape. But the way it was laid out visually was perfect for shooting and the majority of the film was shot there. We had to completely renovate those rooms but it was absolutely worth it."
The Verdict
"It's not hard to imagine that nearly every young woman on the planet, has at some time in their life, met a man just like Connor Mead, who stereo-types every man who, when faced with the 'C' word, sees his life flashing before him and does a runner. Come on ladies, you know the type: the player, not the stayer. Those guys who can't 'commit'. So why then, wouldn't a film about a guy who consistently beds and yet doesn't wed anyone from an endless string of beautiful women, not be funny. You guessed it: it is very funny. Unlike many of those wind-bagging, dead from the neck up critics, assute members of the female gender (and my feminine side) can see, not only the irony of such a film, but the endless comedic opportunities. The paying audience I sat in with, which comprised around 70% young ladies, 15% mature women and, 15% guys, were for most of the film, pissing themselves laughing. Crikey, even my 88 year old dad was falling about in the aisle, splitting his sides with laughter. Although I did have to explain to him the meaning behind a commerical which featured a big hairy Beaver, a lovely young girl and a box of tampons (one of the drawbacks when attending films aimed at a feminine market). If you're looking for laughs there's plenty in this rom-com. 4 STARS."
Who Plays Who?
Matthew McConaughey
Jennifer Garner
Michael Douglas
Emma Stone
Breckin Meyer
Lacey Chabert
Robert Forster
Anne Archer
Daniel Sunjata
Noureen DeWulf
Rachel Boston
Camille Guaty
Amanda Walsh
Micah Sherman
Albert M. Chan
Michael Anastasia
Emily Foxler
Catherine Haena Kim
Noa Tishby
Rachelle Wood
Erin Wyatt
Stephanie Oum
Paul Cassell
Dan Whelton
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Connor Mead
Jenny
Uncle Wayne
Allison Vandermeersh
Paul
Sandra
Sergeant Volkom
Vonda Volkom
Brad
Melanie
Deena the Bridesmaid
Donna the Bridesmaid
Denice the Bridesmaid
Groomsman #1
Groomsman #2
Groomsman #3
Nadja
Charlece
Kiki
Brunette Lingerie Model
Blonde Lingerie Model
Kako
Wedding Guest Jeff
Foyer Bartender
The Production Team
Director
Written by
Produceers
Original Music
Cinematography
Film Editor
Casting
Production Designer
Art Direction
Set Decoration
Costume Designer
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Mark Waters
Jon Lucas & Scott Moore
Brad Epstein & Jonathan Shestack
Rolfe Kent
Daryn Okada
Bruce Green
Geralyn Flood & Marci Liroff
by Cary White
Maria L. Baker
Barbara Haberecht
Denise Wingate
Run Time 100 minutes
Rated M [AUST]
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