While the original 1984 film is considered a classic, its 1989 follow-up is not always held in the same regard. And then of course there was the 2021 re-boot that most fans wish just didn’t exist. But on the flipside then came the 2021 re-re-boot (if that is a thing) that not only won over the long-term fans but also earned the franchise some younger followers. Now the big question is whether or not Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire can live up to the brilliance of its predecessor.
This time around we find Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon – Gone Girl) and Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd – Ant-Man) still in a strong relationship and living in New York, where they have fully got the Ghostbusters back protecting the city.
Of course part of that team is also Trevor Spengler (Finn Wolfhard – Stranger Things) and Phoebe Spengler (Mckenna Grace – Gifted), but things on that side are not working as well as they should. Trevor feels like the others don’t treat him as an adult while Phoebe feels like she is being squeezed out of the team because of how young she is.
Things take a dramatic turn though when a New Yorker named Nadeem (Kumail Nanjiani – The Big Sick) sells an ancient artifact to one of the original Ghostbusters, Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd – The Blues Brothers), and that begins a turn of events that soon sees New York under threat. With danger afoot the cavalry arrives in the form of Peter Venkham (Bill Murray – Moonrise Kingdom), Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson – The Crow) and Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts – Pretty in Pink), bringing Ghostbusters both old and new together.
There is no nice way to say it but Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is not exactly the most original film that you will see in 2024. The story, written by Gil Kenan (A Boy Called Christmas) and Jason Reitman (Labor Day), could be from any supernatural action film, yet there is still something remarkably charming about this film. Not only does it remain entertaining throughout but it also has some ‘special’ moments that films like this would normally lack.
The storylines surrounding the Spengler/Grooberson relationship certainly provides some food for thought. First you have a man coming to terms with whether or not he is now actually a stepfather, while the events Phoebe experience also make this plot line unique. On one hand she is intelligent enough to invent a lot of the equipment that the Ghostbusters use to keep ghosts at bay, but on the other hand she is so young that many feel she needs to step back for a while and take herself out of the face of danger.
Making those plots come to life in a truly memorable way are the performances of Paul Rudd and Mckenna Grace. Over recent years audiences have rarely had a chance to see Rudd deliver the serious side of his acting skills yet they are clearly on show here as Gary deals with an issue often ignored by society – that of a man trying to become a father to his new family.
Then there are the touching scenes featuring Mckenna Grace’s Phoebe talking with her brand-new friend Melody (Emily Alyn Lind – Doctor Sleep). These are the scenes, along with the flood of nostalgia the old characters bring to the film, that makes Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire the kind of movie that is going to impress fans both young and old of this franchise.
That is perhaps the best way to watch Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Let the action sequences entertain you – despite the fact you will have seen them in other movies over the years – but to make it a memorable experience, hold onto the nostalgia that will come flooding back to you when you see the old Ghostbusters come into the film while the heartfelt moments more than make obvious that these new characters only further enhance a franchise that seems to get better with age.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is now showing in Phuket and is rated ‘G’
3/5 Stars
David Griffiths has been working as a film and music reviewer for over 20 years. That time has seen him work in radio, television and in print. He is also an accredited reviewer for Rotten Tomatoes. You can follow him at www.facebook.com/subcultureentertainmentaus