Is “Darby and the Dead” a High School Flop?
In a cinematic world where movie studios often hit the nail on the head by dropping films straight into streaming purgatory, “Darby and the Dead” is no exception. It’s not exactly a thrill ride; think of it as a teen comedy with all the excitement of a wet sponge. And yes, this is coming from someone who defends the honor of “Prey” as a shining beacon in the streaming realm.
Meet the High School Hermit Crab
Our heroine, Darby Harper (played by Riele Downs), describes herself as a “hermit crab” in the elaborate social aquarium of high school. The only companionship she finds is in the lunchroom, playing chess with the school’s groundskeeper, Gary (Tony Danza)—who, plot twist, has been dead for three years. Now that’s what I call a real-life ‘chess club.’ Only, she is the only one who can see him, which must make for some extremely awkward faculty meetings.
A Swim with the Afterlife
Following a regrettable swimming pool incident at age 7—where she also acquired an unfortunate association with death (specifically her mother’s)—Darby discovers she has a knack for seeing—and chatting with—the dearly departed. Instead of attending therapy, she opts to help these souls wrap up their unfinished business. A classic win-win: she gets to skip the soul-crushing socializing while they get to avoid the whole “eternally lingering” scenario. Talk about a niche market!
Enter the Queen Bee
Things take a nosedive into the absurd when Darby encounters popular girl Capri (Auli’i Cravalho, your friendly neighborhood Moana) post-bullying, with Capri promptly meeting her highly ironic demise via a malfunctioning hair straightener. Yay, karma! However, Capri refuses to cross over into the great beyond unless Darby makes sure her pre-planned birthday bash is a roaring success. Because nothing screams “afterlife drama” quite like a teenage birthday party.
The Perplexities of Post-Life Powers
The premise is a delightful mashup of John Hughes and a haunted house story, but the execution is as limp as an undercooked noodle. The film’s director, Silas Howard, paints both the school and afterlife with pastel colors, totally blending them into a sugar-coated conundrum. The rules regarding Capri’s afterlife antics feel as arbitrary as the last-minute changes of a high school prom theme—seriously, who knew they could be this confusing?
When Chemistry Fails
Sure, there’s magic when Downs and Cravalho’s characters mix; their chemistry is downright sweet and slightly salty. It’s a shame the script lacks any real punchlines to complement their banter. They probably could have turned this teen trifle into something a bit more poignant if only someone had checked the script for unnecessary clichés. Alas, we’re left with a film that barely scratches the surface of its potential.
Final Thoughts at the End of the Line
So, there you have it: “Darby and the Dead”—a film best left to the depths of your streaming queue, where it can comfortably exist alongside the dozens of other forgotten high school flicks. It’s rated PG-13 for strong language, suggestive material, and some classic teen party shenanigans, which sadly won’t take you anywhere near the realms of high comedy. But if you’re looking for something to watch on a Friday night while pretending to do laundry, this might just fit the bill. Or not.
‘Darby and the Dead’ – ★★½
Streaming on Hulu as of December 2. Runtime: 100 minutes. Refreshments not included.
