We Have a Ghost

When he discovers a phantom presence living in his attic, a nonplussed teenager’s first instinct is not to flee in fear, but rather to grab his phone, start giggling, and pal around.

Such subversive intentions set We Have a Ghost apart from the legacy of haunted-house sagas it seeks to playfully tweak — reimagining the concept of a lonely ghoul in a contemporary age of viral videos, clout chasing, and social-media cynicism.

While it generates some scattered laughs, this zany comedy undermines its playful lo-fi charms in the second half, when constant mayhem strains any broader efforts to feel relevant.

The story begins with a familiar premise, as Frank (Anthony Mackie) moves his family to suburban Chicago in search of a fresh start. They find a vintage fixer-upper priced below market value, ignore the red flags, and move in.

Frank’s wife (Erica Ash) and oldest son (Niles Fitch) are more accepting of the relocation than introverted younger son Kevin (Jahi Winston), who escapes through classic guitar riffs in his headphones.

Kevin’s curiosity leads him to encountering a ghost in a bowling shirt named Ernest (David Harbour) and resisting his attempts to frighten the youngster. “My personal life is like a thousand times scarier than this,” Kevin quips.

From there, the film gradually fills in background details while establishing ground rules for interactions between the living and the dead. Ernest can determine when he’s visible, for example.

Frank tries to capitalize on the haunting through online fame and fortune, while Kevin is more pragmatic, determined — along with a fellow outcast classmate (Isabella Russo) — to uncover clues about Ernest’s troubled past and free him from his lonely purgatory. Meanwhile, Frank must contend with an eccentric paranormal investigator (Tig Notaro) who solicits some unwanted CIA intervention.

The screenplay by director Christopher Landon (Freaky) works best when the action remains inside the house. Yet overall it’s too silly and detached to manage much of a deeper emotional resonance.

Winston (Charm City Kings) provides some calm amid the chaos with an endearing performance that sidesteps stereotypical teenage angst. Harbour carves a sympathetic figure who craves both excitement and personal closure.

As it mixes in high-speed car chases, high-tech weaponry, and government conspiracies, We Have a Ghost struggles to maintain emotional grounding. Just as all the pandemonium becomes overwhelming for Kevin and Ernest, the same can be said for the film.

Rated PG-13, 125 minutes.