REVIEW: ‘Extra Ordinary,’ now streaming

Photo: Extra Ordinary stars Barry Ward and Maeve Higgins. Photo courtesy of Cranked Up / Provided by Good Deed Entertainment with permission.

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Extra Ordinary is a comedy vehicle that perfectly captures the talents of its star, Maeve Higgins, who plays Rose, a driving instructor in a small town in Ireland. If she could stick to her driving ways, all would be fine, but some of her clients want extra help — of the supernatural kind. You see, Rose used to investigate paranormal activity with her ghost-hunting father, but after a horrible accident, she has decided to hang up the paranormal tools and focus solely on driving instruction.

But those ghosts keep on knocking, and Rose feels the pull back to the supernatural world. While she’s struggling with this decision, she meets the acquaintance of Martin (Barry Ward), who is haunted by the ghost of his former wife. He has nowhere else to turn, so he attempts to employ the help of Rose.

Oh, and Will Forte turns up as a former rock star who is now living in a local castle and writing an album of satanic verses. It’s that kind of movie.

If readers haven’t figured out yet, Extra Ordinary, which is now streaming courtesy of Kino Marquee, is not a run-of-the-mill comedy. It’s eccentric, weird, profane and zany. It’s also a hoot and helped along by Higgins, Ward and Forte, who never apologize for their bizarre roles and somehow find the humanity within all these supernatural shenanigans.

Extra Ordinary is directed by Enda Loughman and Mike Ahern, working off a script they co-wrote with the help of Higgins and Demian Fox. The entire creative team obviously has fun with the material and never worries about jokes not landing (a few fall flat), a joke going for too long (rarely happens) or a joke simply being weird (almost all of the time).

More than anything, the movie introduces the comedy of Higgins to a larger audience. She has a funny line delivery and a warm personality. She’s nervous around Martin — perhaps because they might be mutually attracted to each other — but they’re so darn awkward that they cannot make things work, plus there are those pesky ghosts constantly getting in the way.

Forte, so good playing the man-child, is in his element as the satanic rocker, Christian Winter. He’s so serious about his dedicated spirituality, but no one else, including his wife (Claudia O’Doherty), seems to take him seriously. Most people pass him on the street and only remember him being a one-hit wonder, but if his devilish plans come to full fruition, world dominance will be his. Moo-ha-ha.

Extra Ordinary is easy entertainment during a worldwide pandemic. It whisks the audience away from the cares of the world for 90-ish minutes. The lasting impression will be Higgins and her mastery of so many comedic skills; for the performer, this can certainly be a launching pad for an even more successful career in movies.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

Extra Ordinary (2019). Directed by Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman. Written by Ahern, Loughman, Demian Fox and Maeve Higgins. Starring Higgins, Barry Ward and Will Forte. Running time: 94 minutes. Rating: Click here for more information.