Like the equally awkward cousin of What We Do in the Shadows imbued with the sweet zaniness of Mel Brooks’ best work, Irish paranormal comedy Extra Ordinary delivers steady doses of silliness and big laughs within a surprisingly polished package.

The delightful feature debut of Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman follows Rose Dooley (Maeve Higgins), a former protégée spirit medium who, after accidentally killing her supernatural guru father Vincent (Risteard Cooper), has fallen into life as a driving instructor.

But while Vincent may be physically gone, his presence lingers via grainy, VHS-tape footage,  where he extols his spectral advice on what appears to be public access TV. These retro ’80s injections nicely complement the minor daily hauntings (e.g. a shaking twig or animated toaster plug) and hilariously mundane requests for help that she receives — and promptly ignores — from community members.

The gags keep coming with Zucker/Abrahams-like frequency as a plot takes shape with lonely-heart Rose taking handsome widower Martin Martin (Barry Ward, so good in Ken Loach’s Jimmy’s Hall) up on his offer to rid himself of his nagging/abusive ex-wife Bonnie’s spirit.

Somehow even goofier than Bonnie burning passive-aggressive messages in her family’s toast is Will Forte as Christian Winter, a struggling pop star who resembles Robert Goulet during a Celtic tangent and seeks a comeback via virgin sacrifice. In addition to his wacky music video for lone hit “Cosmic Woman,” Christian earns big laughs while being interrupted during bombastic incantations, much like Jemaine Clement’s Vladislav in Shadows doing his evil bidding (on eBay, for a table).

These parties converge when Christian, with help from his disturbingly-shaped wooden staff, enchants Martin’s daughter Sarah (Emma Coleman), causing her to levitate above her bed before being summoned to Christian’s castle on the night of the Blood Moon and fulfilling his demonic ritual.

Amidst crisp visuals and charming low-fi special effects, Rose and Martin spring into action and investigate the calls she’s been ignoring, allowing things like haunted recycling bins to temporarily inhabit Martin so that they can collect the ectoplasm — which he hilariously spits up — that’s necessary to save Sarah.

While Forte’s antics are Extra Ordinary’s main attraction, Higgins proves a master of social ineptness and Ward is just as zany when Bonnie possesses him, producing a cigarette seemingly out of thin air and accosting Rose on her intentions with her husband. Yet beyond the rampant absurdity, the film also packs significant, well-earned sweetness as Rose comes to terms with her legacy and Martin bravely moves on, making the comedy far more than the average ghost-busting — and gut-busting — adventure.

Grade: A-minus. Rated R. Now playing at the Fine Arts Theatre

(Photo: Cranked Up Films)