2 Stars (out of 4)

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Part supernatural family comedy and part melodrama, Bhoothnath unsuccessfully tries to appeal to everyone. In the amusing first half, a young boy named Banku befriends a ghost named Nath, played by Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan. A schoolyard showdown reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” video is particularly entertaining. The second half drags, as the ghost’s backstory becomes a bizarre parable warning adult children of the dire consequences of moving away from their childhood homes.

No Rating; 136 minutes

This review originally appeared in The Naperville Sun on May 15, 2008