Casper: A Spirited Beginning

Casper: A Spirited Beginning is a direct-to-video spin-off prequel to the 1995 film Casper, produced by Harvey Comics and Saban Entertainment and released by 20th Century Fox on September 9, 1997. Though it is billed as a prequel to the Universal film Casper, showing how Casper became a ghost, it does not appear to be set in the same continuity as the previous film.

Plot
At the beginning of the movie Casper (Jeremy Foley) is on a train full of ghosts, with no idea of where he is and seems to be completely unaware that he himself is a ghost. Instead of going to Ghost Central, where the train is headed, he is kicked off the train. Casper then finds himself in the city of Deedstown, where he unintentionally scares all of the town's citizens. Only then does Casper realize that he is indeed a ghost.

The movie then moves onto a boy named Chris Carson (Brendan Ryan Barrett), a loner with a passionate obsession with the occult, and his father, workaholic Tim Carson (Steve Guttenberg), who is trying to demolish the Applegate Mansion in order to start his plans of a new renovation for the town. But Tim arrives to see people protesting the demolition of the building, which they consider to be a historic landmark. The group of protesters are being led by Sheila Fistergraff (Lori Loughlin). Mr. Carson tries to reason with them, telling them that the old building is falling apart and that he only wants to improve the community by building a new mini-mall in place of the old mansion. The protesters refuse to give in, but just when the bulldozer is about to tear down the building, both the wrecking crew and the protesters are tormented by Stretch (Jim Ward), Fatso (Jess Harnell), and Stinky (Bill Farmer), the Ghostly Trio. They scare everybody away and take possession of the old mansion.

Meanwhile, Chris runs into a group of kids on his way to school. They make fun of him and tease him because of his obsession with the supernatural. Just as Chris is about to get pulverized, the frightened victims from the ghost attack run past them, allowing Chris and his tormentors to flee. Chris knows that this was the work of the Ghostly Trio and goes to the mansion to see them. Inside the mansion, Chris encounters the Ghostly Trio, who are celebrating their victory. Chris desperately wants to become a member of the Ghostly Trio and he enthusiastically asks them if he can join their group. But the ghosts just laugh him off and harshly reject him, since he is a human.

Meanwhile, the train that Casper was on arrives in Ghost Central, where new spirits are trained to learn the proper ghost lifestyle and work to receive a haunting license. Ghost Central is run by the evil Kibosh (James Earl Jones) and his spineless assistant Snivel (Pauly Shore) who realizes that Casper is missing. Kibosh immediately becomes furious and worried about how he will look if some rookie ghost is wandering around without any proper schooling. Kibosh orders Snivel to find Casper and bring him back to Ghost Central.

Back in Deedstown, Mayor Johnny Hunt (Rodney Dangerfield) warns Tim that if Applegate Mansion is not torn down by the next day then Tim will be finished. At school, some kids attempt to pull a prank on Chris by dropping a balloon full of gunk on him. But it backfires and the balloon ends up hitting Principal Rabie (Richard Moll). Angered he seizes a bully named Brock and Chris. But Chris is rescued by Sheila, his teacher, who tells Chris to stand up for himself. A news report then comes on the TV, with the Mayor and Mr. Carson telling the press that the demolition project will proceed as plan, despite a few set-backs. Sheila is outraged. Chris runs into Casper and they instantly become friends. Chris is thrilled to meet another ghost and Casper is excited to find a human who will not scream at him or run away; and both Casper and Chris are lonely and feel like outcasts. Together they go to Applegate Mansion. Casper admits that he doesn't know how to act like a ghost. Chris tries to teach Casper how to behave like a true ghost. But then the Ghostly Trio show up and berate Chris. Chris introduces Casper to Stretch, Stinky, and Fatso. The trio are happy to meet another ghost and become excited when they find out that Casper never went to training, and is therefore unspoiled by Kibosh. The three ghosts see a golden opportunity to prove that their techniques are better than Kibosh's. If they succeed, then maybe Kibosh will stop hunting for them. The Ghostly Trio decide to invite Casper into the group and teach him everything they know. But, unbeknownst to them, Snivel found them (and was eavesdropping) and leaves to report back to Kibosh.

And so Casper's ghost lessons with the trio begin, and Casper learns all kinds of new things, like how to go into "stealth mode" (become invisible) and how to go through solid walls. Meanwhile Snivel calls up Kibosh and tells him that he is found Casper with the Ghostly Trio and that the trio are teaching Casper unorthodox and illegal ghostly techniques. The trio are planning to use Casper to put Kibosh in his place. Kibosh is outraged.

Chris is sad and disappointed that his father does not show up to his school's open house that night and Sheila tries her best to comfort and support Chris. Back at the mansion, Casper is unable to act scary and Stretch realizes that this is because Casper does not want to scare people. Casper just wants to be friendly, but then they kick him out of the group, deciding that there is no place in the world for a friendly ghost. The next morning Chris is still angry at his dad for not showing up and Tim promises to make it up to him by spending more time with him. Chris is excited until a sad Casper floats into to his room. Casper explains to Chris that he was kicked out for being too nice and that he is planning on leaving Deedstown. Chris protests and offers to help Casper, saying that Casper is his pal. Casper decides to stay in town with Chris, who becomes his new teacher. While Chris is giving Casper ghost lessons at school, Brock and his friends show up and tease Chris. Amazingly, one of them, Jennifer, sticks up for Chris. Brock gets attacked by Casper and gets into trouble with the principal.

Excited by his accomplishments, Casper flies off to test out his new powers. He is able to scare away a man who attempts to rob a convenience store and the owner of the store thanks Casper for saving his life. Casper is ecstatic and decides to use his ghostly powers to help people. Meanwhile, Tim's office catches on fire due to an accident by Bill Case, a professional bomber hired by Tim, and he is unable to show up at the meeting. Sad and upset, Chris storms off but soon becomes hopeful that his dad will remember their other plans. Sheila shows up at Chris's house to return something that he left at school and Chris invites her inside but she almost discovers Casper. She finally leaves and they prepare dinner for Chris and his father. Snivel sees Casper acting like "the fleshie's slave" and leaves to report back to Kibosh. Kibosh is disgusted that a human is teaching ghost techniques to a ghost and decides to go to Deedstown himself to deal with the issue.

The Ghostly Trio finds out about Casper's good deeds and feel that it is a threat to their reputation. So they go out to find Casper. When Tim comes home, Chris gets angry at his dad because he always neglected and ignored him. And when Chris tries to introduce Tim to Casper, Casper gets kidnapped by the trio and Tim does not believe Chris and leaves to visit the mayor. Chris feels betrayed by Casper and runs away from home. But then Brock and the bullies grab him and lock him in the mansion, which Bill planted a bomb inside.

The next morning, the Ghostly Trio are unable to find Casper. Kibosh arrives at Deedstown and captures them. Snivel is sent out to find Casper. Tim wakes up and discovers that Chris is gone. He finds a note from Chris which tells him that he has run away. Casper flies in and meets Tim, who is at first frightened but then he listens to Casper and they both decide to go out and find Chris. Tim rushes to save Chris when he learns that his son is in the Applegate Mansion, which is about to explode. Tim hitches a ride with Sheila. Casper arrives at the mansion and finds Chris trying to escape. Tim is able to get his son out of the house and Casper eats the bomb which explodes in his stomach, saving the house and the people. Kibosh is impressed with Casper's trick and Casper tells him that the Ghostly Trio taught him how to do it. However, Kibosh says that only ghosts that are family can haunt together, so the trio lies to Kibosh and tells him they are Casper's uncles. Kibosh allows Casper to stay with his 'uncles' and leaves them in peace. Chris and his father reconcile and the bullies get their comeuppance.

Reception
The film was panned by critics. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has a 0% "rotten" rating based on five reviews.

Soundtrack
The soundtrack to Casper: A Spirited Beginning was released on compact disc and audio cassette by EMI-Capitol Special Markets on August 26, 1997.

1. "Casper the Friendly Ghost" - KC & the Sunshine Band

2. "Love Sensation" - 911

3. "Delicious" - Shampoo

4. "Mansize Rooster" - Supergrass

5. "Best Friend" - C.T.F.G.

6. "I'm Not Alone" - Ellen ten Damme

7. "Don't Worry, Be Happy" - Bobby McFerrin

8. "I Wanna Be with You" - Backstreet Boys

9. "Spooky Madness" - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

10. "Kandy Pop" - Bis

11. "No One Lives Forever" - Oingo Boingo

12. "Big Bomb Bomb" - Whitey Don

13. "You're in Trouble" - C.T.F.G.

Cast

 * Steve Guttenberg - Tim Carson
 * Brendan Ryan Barrett - Chris Carson
 * Lori Loughlin - Sheila Fistergraff
 * Rodney Dangerfield - Mayor Johnny Hunt
 * Richard Moll - Principal Rabie
 * Michael McKean - Bill Case
 * Shannon Chandler - Jennifer
 * Steven Hartman - Brock Lee
 * Logan Robbins - Danny
 * D'Juan Watts - Leon
 * Ben Stein - Grocer
 * Brian Doyle-Murray - Foreman Dave
 * Edie McClurg - Librarian
 * Sherman Hemsley - Grocer
 * Casper Van Dien - Bystander
 * Michael McDonald - Sarcastic Protester
 * Debi Mazar - Angie Lyons

Voice Cast

 * Jeremy Foley - Casper
 * Jim Ward - Stretch
 * Jess Harnell - Fatso
 * Bill Farmer - Stinkie
 * James Earl Jones - Kibosh
 * Pauly Shore - Snivel