At breakfast, Casper's uncles whoosh in with their wispy tails whipping up the kitchen in the style of military helicopters while the "Ride of The Valkyries" is playing loudly. Stretch leans in and bellows, "I love the smell of fleshies in the morning!" It's a fun moment for any child to smile at, no doubt, and it's probably best they have no idea it's in reference to an iconic moment in Apocalypse Now — a dark, gritty look at the madness that is the Vietnam War. In fact, Casper is packed with references that come rapid-fire in some scenes, such as the mirror scene where we get Clint Eastwood, Rodney Dangerfield, and then the Crypt Keeper.
Adults watching Casper will also enjoy the slew of clever jokes that writers sprinkled throughout the film. Kudos to them. After all, the weight of parenthood has its perks, and knowing more than the kiddos is a guilty pleasure, like eating ice cream after midnight. The kid-friendly antics throughout Casper are complimented by plenty of adult-based wordplay. Our favorite has to be when Harvey realizes he has to have "the talk" with his daughter. When he begins to lecture on the topic, Kat stops him and says, "You're a little late for that, Dad." She knows about these things already, you goofball. After a thoughtful pause, Harvey responds, "How late?" It's a wonderfully layered joke that will pull a giggle out of the most cynical adult.
