Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Review
Theatrical Movie Review - SciFi/Horror/Comedy
I can’t say for certain that the 1984 film “Ghostbusters” is the movie I have rewatched the most in my life, but I have a strong suspicion that it is. I love pretty much everything about that movie, and it is not only my favorite comedy; it is one of my favorite films, period. No sequel or reboot has come close to it for me, but I will see all of them in the hopes that perhaps this time it will work. So, while I went to Gil Kenan’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” with somewhat low expectations, I still went in with hope, because I want to love again.
The Ghostbusters are now led by Egon Spengler’s daughter Callie (Carrie Coon), her boyfriend Gary (Paul Rudd), and her children Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace). Their operation is funded by Winston Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson) and supported by his team of paranormal researchers. They are a thorn in the side of Walter Peck (William Atherton), former EPA official, now the mayor of New York. When Nadeem (Kumail Nanjiani) brings a mysterious orb into Ray Stantz’s (Dan Akroyd) shop, they have no idea that it will unleash the world-ending demon Garraka (Ian Whyte). They will have to team up with Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) and Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts) to save the city and the world.
You will notice a slew of names from a movie that debuted 40 years ago this summer. And I’m telling you, this movie would have been so much better if none of them had been in it.
The base cast returning from “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” is fun and has excellent chemistry. They echo the original cast enough to feel comfortable while adding new dimensions that make it fresh. New characters from Nanjiani and Patton Oswalt rounded out the story well. There was a really interesting relationship between a ghostbuster and a ghost that felt like something worth exploring. The combination of puppets and CGI gives the ghosts a great look. There was a good movie to be had.
But they couldn’t leave well enough alone and instead brought back the original gang and all of their ghost buddies yet again. They didn’t add anything to the story and seemed to exist exclusively for the opportunity to cash in on the nostalgia of people who loved the original. But all I could think was that they got in the way of allowing the story to grow and evolve. For a movie about helping spirits move on after they’ve passed, the filmmakers are reluctant to allow the same for the original cast members.
There's a moment in “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” when Finn Wolfhard’s character literally says, “I know that guy, " referring to Slimer. I know that level of cynicism exists in these kinds of nostalgia-baiting movies, but you’re not supposed to include it in the script. I love having “Ghostbusters” as part of my movie-watching history. I guess I just want a new generation to have their own “Ghostbusters” that honors that without shoehorning the original into it. AGAIN.
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This review originally appeared in The Dominion Post on March 24, 2024.
“ For a movie about helping spirits move on after they’ve passed, the filmmakers are reluctant to allow the same for the original cast members.” Great line