Most importantly, all romantic comedies depend on the mindset of the viewer. If you go into this movie hoping to see an Academy Award winner or a life-changing classic, you will ultimately feel robbed of your $5 admittance fee. You definitely can't take this particular romantic comedy too seriously because you will be utterly let down by the unrealistic, supernatural plot. From the previews you should already know that the two main characters can't consummate their relationship, not only because it's a PG-13 movie, but mainly because one of the main characters happens to be a spirit. Basically, everyone knows that there will be love at the end of these movies, but the real question is how much this quasi-lame film can make you laugh.
Elizabeth (Reese Witherspoon) is a workaholic doctor trying to get promoted to attending physician. She works 26-hour shifts and is a caffeine junkie. Since she spends all her time trying to work up the competitive ladder at the hospital, she has no life of her own: no boyfriend, friends, or fun outside of work. However, this all changes when her literal "spirit" has more time to itself when her physical "self" falls into a coma.
David (Mark Ruffalo) ends up moving into Elizabeth's apartment, and Elizabeth's confused spirit accuses him of breaking into her house. It doesn't take long for the two of them to realize that Elizabeth is in spirit form since she can walk through the dining room table and heckle David while hanging out in the refrigerator. While Elizabeth is an obsessive-compulsive workaholic, David is a couch potato alcoholic still recovering from his last relationship. He tries to expel her from his apartment by reading spiritual books, lighting candles and holding a solo séance. When he can't get rid of her this way he gets the "ghost busters" and "the joy luck club," to assist him. However, he simply can't get rid of her because she isn't dead! (And thank goodness because I don't think the world is ready for a completely platonic love story between man and spirit.) As the previews imply, she is only in a very serious coma.
One of the key parts of any romantic comedy is the supporting cast. A funny supporting cast is essential to balance out the somewhat cheesy, overly "chick flick" aspects of romantic comedies. This is true of every classic in this genre from "Love Actually" to "Notting Hill." The only disappointing part about David's friend, Jack (Donal Logue), is that he wasn't in more scenes of the movie. He is a great friend who is trying to cheer up his heartbroken buddy. Jack tells David that it's "OK to drink, as long as it's with other people. God gave us alcohol as a social lubricant to make men brave and women loose." Since Elizabeth is a recluse doctor, she does not have any friends in the movie, but she does have a very loving, somewhat spastic sister (Dina Waters) who has adorable daughters. Jon Heder, better known as Napoleon Dynamite, truly stole his scenes as Darryl. While it is very weird to see him in a different movie, he still manages to uphold the same hilarious personality that made him so funny in "Napoleon Dynamite."
Having a ghost, spirit, or invisible person (whatever form you want to consider the main character) in a movie, as unrealistic as it sounds, makes it silly, cute and very funny; in fact, almost all of the comical scenes in the movie are based on the fact that Elizabeth is a "spirit," making David look like a crazy man when he talks to her, and almost all of the action scenes depend on figuring out how she became a "spirit" and how she can reenter her old life. There are definitely parts where David and Elizabeth's hands glow when they touch, and both characters have their own dramatic monologues, but it's one of the best romantic comedies I've seen since "Love Actually." Basically, it has the fun spiritual twist of the early '90s movie, "Ghost," but without the tears, frustration and awkward scenes with too much heavenly lighting. If you like romantic comedies, you'll really enjoy "Just Like Heaven."