(HBO on Comcast) The first starring vehicle for British comic star Ricky Gervais is a surprisingly pleasurable trifle about a misanthrope who starts seeing dead people: It’s “Topper’’ meets “The Sixth Sense’’ in the old neighborhood of “Tootsie.’’ Greg Kinnear plays a ghost, and Tea Leoni, delightful as ever, plays his widow. Unfortunately, writer-director David Koepp advances the heretical notion that Gervais might believably play a nice man. (PG-13; runs through Oct. 5) TY BURR

(HBO on Comcast) How do you keep your kids in River Heights when they’ve seen Hogwarts? The movie version of the teen-sleuth book series dives into the abyss between earnest and ironic, and promptly loses its way. Still, it has just enough wit to make you realize it could have been worse. Starring Emma Roberts as Nancy, who relocates to Los Angeles and puts the mean girls in their place. (PG; runs through Oct. 5) TY BURR