Hey gang, Valkor here. Ever since its second outing of a sequel
came and left the theaters back in 1989, the Ghostbusters franchise
has never left the thoughts of geekdom. Sure we had an animated
series, a
few video games, a
fan film, and countless toys as well travel
accessories to keep our minds and hearts occupied. But for
us fans of the films, all we ever wanted was to see Egon, Venkman,
Winston and Ray on the big screen once again to fight the paranormal
baddies that threaten our world… in a comedic fashion. Unfortunately,
there were too many blockades barring the foursome from ever seeing
another theatrical outing, so those in charge said “fuck it! Let’s
reboot the thing and take it into a whole new direction”. Well,
that time has come, as a new “Ghostbusters” film hits the big
screen, with an entirely new cast – all female, to take the reins.
And I couldn’t be happier. Just to give you a heads up, expect
some spoilers!
The 2016 version of “Ghostbusters” puts the focus on three scientists – Erin (Kristen Wiig), Abby (Melissa McCarthy - The Hangover 3) and Holtzman (Kate McKinnon) , plus MTA worker Patty (Leslie Jones) as they hunt down paranormal threats that plague New York City. A lone janitor by the name of Rowan (Neil Casey), is placing electrical boxes around the city that seem to attract ghosts. Later we learn that they fall into a pattern that when matched up, leads to a building, where he activates a much larger device that opens a void, allowing a flood of ghosts and otherworldly horrors to take over the city. And it's up to this new team of feminine, ghostbusting, awesomeness to put a stop to it.
This latest version of the Ghostbusters is not only a retelling of the original 1984 classic film of the same name, but it’s also an origin story in the truest sense. We spend more time with the team not only banding together, but we watch as they not only build up not just themselves but also their weaponry, their base of operations (they don’t get the firehouse until the end of the film) and their claim to fame; in the original Ghostbusters film, once the guys began catching ghosts, they were immediately thrust into the limelight and embraced it. Meanwhile, in this new film, the women face a more skeptical audience and truly need to prove their worth, which doesn’t happen until the film’s end. They even have to fend against a YouTube audience, who are nothing but a bunch of trolls anyway. On top of that, you have the mayor (Andy Garcia) and his crew who know about the ghost threat... but don't want to outwardly admit that ghosts exist.
The newest film, while offering a fresh perspective, tosses in elements of the original film that fans can appreciate and have fun pointing out all the Easter eggs. Plus most of the original cast – Dan Ackroyd, Bill Murray, Annie Potts, Ernie Hudson and Sigourney Weaver, return with fun cameos. There’s even a heartfelt memorial to Harold Ramis early on in the film in the form of a bust statue. The only person missing is Rick Moranis, would is someone I really wanted to see, but I respect his decisions for putting Hollywood behind him. However if he can be coaxed out of retirement for the next film (and I hope there is a second), then that would be a real treat. Lastly, don't forget to sit through the credits. No not the Chris Hemsworth (The Avengers) “Kevin dance off”! I’m talking about after that!
The Good:
Out of all the recent reboots I’ve experienced, I have to say I enjoyed “Ghostbusters” the most! Going in, I was a bit skeptical - not by the cast, but from the initial trailers, which didn't seem all that impressive. Then I remembered that I wasn’t really impressed by the original film's trailer as well. But ultimately, I was blown away. And the same can be said for the present version, which I instantly fell in love with! The story works well, though I think it’s a bit overdone with too much dialogue and pacing that’s way too quick; but the film embraces the source material, adding its own spin of cheerfulness and comedic fun that’s a laugh riot from opening to end. And you can’t have a Ghostbusters film without ghostbusting; and while the crew really only bust one ghost, the rest meet their demise (again), through some intense action sequences where the ladies proceed to shred, whip, and explode those ghost baddies to smithereens – what a beautiful sight to behold! Kudos to bringing back such favorites such as Slimer and Mr. Stay Puft; But an even bigger applause goes out to having the Ghostbusters logo as the big bad at the film’s climatic end. Acting wise, it’s pretty well-balanced, with everyone getting ample amount of screen time. But I’d have to say Kate McKinnon’s “Holtzman” is the definite show stealer! Holtzman creates the team’s weaponry and really loves her work and you can tell McKinnon had a blast playing the role. One scene, in particular, has her dancing around her equipment to “Rhythm of the Night”; it’s so unnecessary, but it works and it’s hilarious! In the end, there’s no stopping this paranormal train of ghostbusting awesome that is the new “Ghostbusters” film; they’re here and I hope they’re here to stay, with plenty more ghostbusting adventures down the pike!
The Bad:
I'm gonna admit, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Kevin; don’t get me wrong, the dude had his moments, especially that crazy dance number, which I feel should have been added to the film rather than shown during the credits. But there were other scenes that I felt, were a bit too much (i.e. any scene dealing with the phone, which wasn't that much thankfully). However, his final scene with the sandwich – hilarious!
The Ugly:
N/A
The “Ghostbusters” reboot is making its way through theaters, and if you’re a fan of the franchise and you’re looking for a good time, then don’t let the fact that the originals aren’t back at the helm. Give this film a shot and I assure you, you’ll be in for a pleasant good time. So, out of TOV 5 stars, I’m giving “Ghostbusters” a 4.
