Dropping right on the heels of the biggest movie weekend of the year (aka Barbieheimer) is no enviable task. Yet that’s where Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” finds itself. Both “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” broke records and shattered expectations during their opening weekend and both are still bringing in huge numbers heading into week two. And the terrific “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” is still in the early weeks of its release as well.

So from the very start it looked to be an uphill battle for this supernatural horror comedy. That’s tough news for Walt Disney Studios who is in desperate need of a big screen winner. Sadly this somewhat fun yet mostly unnecessary reboot isn’t likely to provide the box office kick the House of Mouse needs. “Haunted Mansion” certainly has a talent-rich cast and the studio has put nearly $160 million into its production. But the movie is the very definition of a mixed bag and it’s hard to imagine it’ll make the kind of mark needed at the theaters.

Directed by Justin Simien and written for the screen by Katie Dippold, “Haunted Mansion” is a tale of two halves. Things start promising as we’re introduced to Ben (LaKeith Stanfield) – once an ebullient and ambitious astrophysicist with a girlfriend he loved deeply; now down on his luck and living alone in New Orleans where he gives walking tours through the city’s historical district.

One day Ben is paid a visit by a local priest named Father Kent (Owen Wilson) who tells him about Gabbie (Rosario Dawson), a single mother who has just moved to New Orleans from New York with her young son Travis (Chase W. Dillon) in hopes of making a fresh start. Gabbie has purchased an old mansion outside of town with hopes of turning it into a bed and breakfast. But she has one very specific problem. Yep you guessed it – it’s haunted.

So Gabbie sought out Father Kent who in turn sought out Ben. You see, years earlier Ben invented a quantum lens (aka ghost camera) that’s able to do “spectral photography” (i.e. it can take pictures of invisible spirits). At first Ben has no interest in helping. But when he’s offered $2000 he agrees to drive out and humor the young family (and make some quick cash). But Ben soon learns that once you cross the threshold into their haunted mansion that you’re forever bound to the house.

Ben and Father Kent seek the help of Harriet (Tiffany Haddish), the only psychic in their price range, and Bruce (DannyDeVito), a history professor at Tulane who happens to specialize in haunted mansions. Together their paranormal “Dream Team” set out to uncover the secrets of the mansion so that can sever its bonds and free the young family and themselves. There are some good laughs baked into these moments and there’s a fun, playful spirit that comes out most in these early scenes.

But in the second half the movie starts to run out of steam. That laughs are harder to find which makes some of the hokey dialogue stand out more. And some characters get lost for extended periods of time. It’s all mostly due to the film’s length. You get the sense that there’s a much better 90-100 minute movie there somewhere. Instead the cut we get tops two hours and you can feel it during those last 20 minutes.

The performances are mostly what you would expect from such a stellar cast, but even they suffer a bit in ways you might not expect. Take Stanfield (a great actor) who at times seems unsure of how to deliver some of the lines he’s handed. But is it him or the direction? Dawson is terrific with what she’s given, but her character is so tightly confined to a specific type that we rarely get to see the actress show her chops. And then there’s the always affable and delightfully goofy Owen Wilson who is very much playing an Owen Wilson character. Unfortunately he often fades into the background. More Wilson would’ve been better.

I do appreciate Simien’s attempts at bringing some emotional weight to the story. For the most part it has the desired impact. The same could be said for the visual effects. They’re noticeably shaky in spots, but overall they get the job done. Still the movie can’t quite kick into gear during its second half and stalls during what should have been it’s big buildup to the final act. It’s unfortunate because there’s some really good talent onscreen. And you hate to see that kind of quality ensemble go to waste. “Haunted Mansion” is in theaters now.

VERDICT – 2.5 STARS