Name: Afterlife of the Party
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Drama
Released: 2021-09-02T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Victoria Justice, Midori Francis, Robyn Scott, Adam Garcia, Timothy Renouf

The opening shot of Afterlife of the Party lingers on Victoria Justice‘s wide-eyed, party-ready face, a stark contrast to the grim fate awaiting her character, Cassie. This tonal whiplash sets the stage for Stephen Herek‘s 2021 Netflix film, a supernatural comedy that juggles life, death, and the messy in-between with mixed results.

Cassie, a vibrant party planner, dies during her birthday week and is given five days to right her wrongs as a guardian angel. The premise is ripe for both laughs and tears, but Afterlife of the Party stumbles in its execution. Justice’s performance as Cassie is undeniably charming, particularly in her ghostly interactions with her best friend Lisa (Midori Francis). Their dynamic—filled with humor and heart—anchors the film. A standout scene finds Cassie humming to make herself visible to Lisa, a clever twist on the classic ghost trope that highlights Justice’s comedic timing.

However, the film’s structure feels uneven. The first act rushes through Cassie’s death and introduction to the afterlife, while the middle stretches thin as she navigates her missions. The pacing issues are compounded by a script that leans too heavily on clichés, from the angst-ridden best friend to the love interest who’s conveniently perfect. Adam Garcia’s Howie, for instance, lacks depth, reducing his role to little more than a plot device.

Where Afterlife of the Party shines is in its emotional beats. The moment Cassie helps her parents reconcile is genuinely moving, thanks to Gloria Garcia and Timothy Renouf’s nuanced performances. Similarly, Lisa’s arc—from isolated archeologist to woman reclaiming her social life—offers a satisfying character journey. Yet these strengths are undermined by the film’s derivative storytelling. The afterlife premise feels borrowed from better-executed films like Ghost or Just Like Heaven, and the humor often falls flat, relying on broad jokes rather than sharp wit.

Director Stephen Herek struggles to balance the film’s tonal shifts. Scenes of levity are undercut by heavy-handed drama, while moments of genuine emotion are sometimes sabotaged by awkward transitions. The cinematography is serviceable but unremarkable, failing to elevate the material.

Ultimately, Afterlife of the Party is a well-intentioned but flawed film. It’s saved by its leads and a few standout emotional scenes, but it’s let down by a clunky script, uneven pacing, and derivative storytelling. If you’re in the mood for lighthearted fantasy with heart, it’s watchable—just don’t expect anything groundbreaking.

MCM Score: 5.8/10 — craft 2 / story 1 / performances 2 / originality 1 / genre_fit 1