I now realise, Patrick Swayze was miscast
I used to think he was perfect as a child but now I don't think so.
I heard about a lot of more serious actors passing on this role, including Tom Cruise. Now I wonder what a better actor could have brought to this role?
Firstly the positive. Patrick sells the romance and the physicality of being an attractive partner. He also seems like the guy who'd say Ditto.
His chemistry with Demi and Whoopie are on point.
That's the positive, now the negative.
His age is a bit of an issue with his partner and best friend being 20 somethings, while he looks close to 40 in some shots. I'm left to wonder why he hangs out with people much younger and how young were they when he met them?
A lot of this movie requires him to look shocked. Unfortunately, Patrick's eyes aren't up to the job. They convey a deer in the headlights, not the intensity required for someone who is dealing with the shock of being a ghost and dealing with the betrayal by his friend.
The only time I was like "you're nailing the emotional intensity" was when we see him in bed waking up and discovering Molly is the angel statue, then the light appearing. He sold it. He looks engaged. He's in despair. He knows he's dead. But elsewhere he left me wanting.
I would love to have seen Tom Cruise in this role.
A young Tom Cruise opposite a young Demi would have been very interesting. His youth would have added more to the tragedy of his death. The whole "young love" dynamic.
Plus Tom would be better at selling the New York banker vibe.