An eccentric spiritualist known as Madame Arcati (Judi Dench) conducts a seance for writer Charles Condomine (Dan Stevens), who is suffering from writer's block. Despite her ludicrous rituals, Arcati manages to summon the spirit of Condomine's first wife and muse, Elvira (Leslie Mann).

This initiates a love triangle involving Charles, his living wife Ruth (Isla Fisher) and her deceased predecessor that is both comedic and confusing.

Arcati, of course, has no idea how she summoned the spirit and, thus, no idea how to send her back. And, as unhappy as Ruth is to have her husband's late wife back in their midst, Elvira is equally miffed to learn she'd been replaced.

Based on the play by Noel Coward, Blithe Spirit was first made into a film in 1948 starring Rex Harrison, Constance Cummings, Kay Hammond and Margaret Rutherford. In my opinion, the earlier version -- which was adapted for the screen by Coward himself, although the director took some liberties with his script -- was much better than this uninspired remake.