Based upon characters created by Dan Aykroyd & Harold Ramis
Screenplay Written by Gil Kenan & Jason Reitman
Directed by Gil Kenan
**1/2 (two and a half stars)
RATED PG 13
As I like to often tell friends and acquaintances who are too young to have been there to have experienced certain pop cultural touchstones at the time, I vividly remember a world where there was no such thing as "Ghostbusters." And then...it happened.
And it was awesome!
This year, I am honestly gobsmacked to realize that Director Ivan Reitman's "Ghostbusters" (1984) will reach its 40th birthday. To that end, I was there on opening weekend, full ready to laugh and celebrate the latest feature film starring my Saturday Night Live heroes. But, what resulted was wholly unexpected. "Ghostbusters" was unquestionably funny but I was stunned that the gently edgy humor worked in full service alongside an actual ghost story with genuine scares that built towards a save the world aesthetic that was absolutely thrilling as I was simultaneously laughing heartedly. It was one of those movies back then that was a cultural phenomenon being born right in front of your eyes. It was that proverbial lightning in a bottle as whatever stars were in play during the conception and making of that film, they were all in astounding alignment.
In all of the years since, I have felt increasingly that perhaps it was really the type of movie that can only be made once.
While "Ghostbusters" felt to be the culmination of what began with Director John Landis' masterpieces "National Lampoon's Animal House" (1978) and "The Blues Brothers" (1980), as well as Reitman's Bill Murray starring vehicles "Meatballs" (1979) and "Stripes" (1981) and to an extent Harold Ramis' directorial debut with "Caddyshack" (1980), in many ways, there was really no reason for an updated Abbott and Costello comedic monster mash with first rate special effects and horror films frights to have worked as well as it did. It could have resulted in a mess of an experience. But, t didn't as I would think that it far exceeded the hopes and expectations of all those who participated in that original film...because, really..."Ghostbusters" was one of a kind as it captured humor, horror ad the imagination in a then zeitgeist defining touchstone.
40 years on, I have struggled with the concept of new "Ghostbusters" anything as Reitman's "Ghostbusters II" (1989) was a watered down underwhelming sound and light show and Director Paul Feig's female driven "Ghostbusters" (2016) could not seem to define itself as either a sequel, remake, reboot and so, it mistakenly tried all three and failed. Maybe this was just something that did not need to be a franchise and should just be better off left alone. But when, Jason Reitman, Ivan's son, and who was a child when the original film was being made, decided to resurrect the concept and push the series forwards into the 21st century, I remained skeptical but I was curious, especially as he had already established himself as a strong filmmaker in his own right, with "Juno" (2007), the masterful "Up In The Air" (2009) and the emotionally rapacious "Young Adult" (2011).
As far as sequels go, Jason Reitman's "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" (2021) was an honest experience but overall, one that failed to recapture that elusive movie magic that made the original what it remains to this day. While I did like that it contained a genuine story with a compelling center in new character, the quirky, aloof, brainy teenaged Phoebe (McKenna Grace), granddaughter of original and deceased Ghostbuster Egon Spengler (the late Harold Ramis), Reitman's film struggled with finding that balance between humor and scares plus was damaged by underwritten characters, under utilized actors and an over reliance on fan nostalgia and easy sentiment. It was a film, however well intentioned, that over reached into pleasing everyone when serving the story needed to be absolutely first.
Now, we arrive at "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire," this time directed by Jason Reitman's writing/producing partner Gil Kenan and we are delivered something that represents one step forward and two steps backwards in this continuing story. Yes, it remains an honest entry. Nothing about this enterprise feels as mercenary as most sequels are. The ideas presented are strong, from the story, to the supernatural threat to aspects of characters both past and present. And still, it all feels to be somewhat generic and toothless as it is again too eager to try and please absolutely everybody that it ends up satisfying few, making me wonder just who are the Ghostbusters actually for anymore.
Gil Kenan's "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" picks up with the Spengler family, who consists of the aforementioned 15 year old Phoebe, her 18 year old brother Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), Mom Callie (Carrie Coon), plus former Science teacher and Callie's boyfriend Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd), have all moved from Oklahoma to New York City to take up residence in the iconic and newly restored Ghostbusters firehouse station and have become the brand new specter catching team.
Additionally, Phoebe and Trevor's Oklahoma friends (the unfortunately named--it just still feels like a placeholder for something better but Reitman and Kenan never though of anything) Podcast (Logan Kim) and Lucky Domingo (Celeste O'Connor) are collaborating with retired Ghostbuster/occult bookstore owner Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) and retired Ghostbuster/philanthropist Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson), who has created a privately run Paranormal Research Center with all manner supernatural...and all to the bottomless chagrin of their longtime nemesis Walter Peck (William Atherton) now the Mayor of New York City.
Trouble ensues when several strange events in the neighborhood begin to converge, including the team's near capacity ecto-containment unit housing 40 years worth of ghosts, the arrival of a cursed orb, the introduction of a character with pyrokinetic powers (Kumail Nanjiani) and a lonely Phoebe's budding relationship with a 16 year old ghost named Melody (Emily Alyn Lind). The combination of these elements threaten to unleash the power of a vengeful demon and what is known as "The Death Chill," where body temperatures are lowered to the point where victims are literally frightened to death.
Who ya gonna call?
Gil Kenan's "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" is a handsome production drops you into the action quickly, cleanly and does establish a serviceable tone that purposefully dials down the humor (as I am thinking that Kenan and Reitman instinctively knew that they could not compete with the original film in this fashion) and carries a slightly more somber aesthetic, therefore, smartly initiating a different emotional palate. I liked that this film' supernatural threat was not another retread of the Gozer the Sumerian entity and they ventured into a well devised new direction.
I enjoyed seeing a new Ghostbusters team in action, serving as the story of the Spengler family learning how to be a stronger family together, especially with the additional dynamic of Gary emerging as a potential new Father figure to both Phoebe and Trevor. To that end, I liked the concept of the eccentric Phoebe connecting with a teenaged female spirit, an aspect that allowed the film to venture into giving Phoebe more individualistic depth as well as providing the film with some, again, genuine window into teen loneliness and aloneness.
With the original team, I thought Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson carried a surprisingly warm chemistry and a touching dash pathos reflecting upon their advanced ages and how they would each like to spend their twilight years. And then, there is that firehouse and its connection ad function as a portal between the material and metaphysical worlds.
Even with all of that being said, and just as with the previous installment, it still felt as if Kenan is indeed engaged in a more calculated attempt to cast the widest net possible to attract and engage the most viewers. That, to me, is the crucial problem with so many of these remakes, reboots, sequels, prequels and re-imaginings like this film because, and despite, all of the good efforts, there is too much catering at best, and pandering at worst, to the fan base, whatever it happens to be, instead of just trying to tell the best story it possibly can...regardless of the fans. Frankly, Kenan and Reitman derived an honest story and film but it is also one that is attempting to straddle too many fences and unfortunately, to a dwindling degree.
First of all, there are just too many characters running around "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire," a tactic that felt to be less storytelling driven and more wide net fan base gathering as we are dealing with characters both original and new, old, middle aged and teenaged in addition to all of the supernatural figures, and all seemingly designed to reach for a cross generational audience whether the story truly necessitates that need or not. Of course, we all want to see Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) again--and of course, we wouldn't complain with seeing Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts) again either--and we do for a couple of scenes. But, did this film need either one of them? I would argue that the outcome would have been the same if both characters had been removed from the film altogether.
Another new character played by Patton Oswalt served a purpose that Aykroyd's Ray Stantz could have easily served. But, this new character felt superfluous--like the spin-off episode sometimes contained within a primary television series. Essentially, should this film series continue, then Oswalt is who we would see in place of Aykroyd perhaps...so...did Oswalt need to be in this film? Was he essential? Maybe not.
Even the amount of teenage characters took considerable time away from Phoebe, who is positioned as being the new heart of the series. Additional Ghostbuster Research team characters dolled out copious dialogue to new faces rather than allowing us more time with the Spengler family.
What he have in "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" is an adventure story, a family film, a ghost tale, a coming of age film, an ode to nostalgia film while simultaneously advancing a narrative, which would all be well and good if the parts fits together more organically. Even the film's subtitle strikes of a bland Disney-esque/Marvel-esque confection so as to not upset the masses.
Now, I am not suggesting that the film is confused or schizophrenic. It is consistent with itself but at the same time, Kenan does not seem to want to commit to "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" existing as something the fan base would potentially reject on principle because it wasn't something they wanted. Yet, by not being brave enough to possibly risk their collective ire, the film winds up as being the sort of tepid, faux mid 1980s Steven Spielberg-ish production that is never as great as the real thing.
The cast certainly is game enough and they all seem as if they want to be there and are enjoying themselves. Paul Rudd, who always looks as if he is happy to be on set, seems especially engaged with his larger role and involvement. By contrast, I strongly feel that if a filmmaker is able to claim the brilliant Carrie Coon as part of their cast, it is owed to her immensely to give her something to do other than to just be "the Mom"...a Ghostbusting Mom but even so, she deserves more and better.
As for the OGs, Dan Aykroyd in particular looks visibly pleased that his brainchild has lived on for four decades and is able to still reel in new fans. Ernie Hudson also seems pleased to see the grander realization of his initially underused everyman character build into someone more significant to the larger and continuing Ghostbusters world.
So, no, Gil Kenan's "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" is not bad but it also isn't great. And as I continue to think of the original 1984 film, I just feel more and more that we have something that simply cannot be repeated, regardless of efforts or intentions. Yet, here we are. In this cinematic state where the concept of "one and done" is non-existent. Which is a shame because there is truly such joy and satisfaction in beginnings, middles and crucially, in endings and not continuing stories ad infinitum.
I love "Ghostbusters" and I always will. And you know, to preserve it at its best, perhaps it is just time to let this series peacefully rest.
