Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is still bustin’ after all these years. And this time, it is a solid win for team Ghostbuster. Great script, plot, actors and CG. My inner geek sighed with relief at the end of this latest in the verse.
the story
The ghostbuster folks manage to annoy the Mayor and the youngest buster gets canned. Meanwhile, a metal ball, containing something very, very bad, opens up and mass destruction ensues.
There is a new ghost in town who likes the fired ghostbuster. Another new character is a “Firemaster.” He starts the ball rolling, pun intended, by selling the evil orb.
Despite being hindered by the hostile mayor, the Ghostbusters come to the rescue. This iteration of the Ghostbusters is pretty much about the Spenglers. Like the previous film; Afterlife. Children and grandchildren of Egon (The late Harold Ramis.) are part of the cavalry who ride in and save the day.
The cast
Family
Paul Rudd (Bustin’ makes me feel good guy.) is back as Gary Grooberson, he is, for all intents and purposes the father figure in this Ghostbusters tale.
Carrie Coon is Callie.
Mckenna Grace is wunderkind Phoebe
Finn Wolfhard is Phoebe’s brother Trevor.
Friends
In no particular order:
Logan Kim, Celeste O’Connor, and James Acaster as Podcast, Lucky and Lars respectively.
Enemies
Or enemy rather:
William Atherton as the Mayor.
The Old Ghostbusters Gang
Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts. *And seriously, do I need to give their character’s names? I think not.*
The New Kids
Nadeem: Kumail Nanjiani is The Firemaster.
Melody: Emily Alyn Lind
Dr Hubert Wartzki: Patton Oswalt
It works
Everything in Ghostbuster: Frozen Empire works. The music, the pacing, and the characters all mesh together like an intricate spider web. The return of Atherton as the “di**less” annoyance was like the icing on this Ghostbusters cake.
The nostalgic first reel to the film, when the news hits that the guys have been shut down is brilliant. As is the inclusion of the Stay Puft marshmallow man. This is all just perfect.
The big bad, Garrik, is the perfect villain. Melody played by Lindy, who shows she really does belong in horror films even funny ones, rocks this one out of the park. Who else can look so compelling yet kind of creepy. Sort of like a blonde Jenna Ortega…
inner geek
I got stupidly excited when this became available to stream. I remember the original Ghostbusters vividly. It was odd, eclectic and sexy. Yes, I said sexy. How else can you describe Sigourney Weaver as Dana?
The mixture of old and new works great here and does indeed speak to our inner geek. Just the music alone excites beyond normal reason.
The behind the scenes team
Director/writer Gil Kenan (Who has impressed since the 2006 animated film Monster House.) does not disappoint here. He still has those chops.
Editors Nathan Orloff and Shane Reid snap all the pieces together sharply. Director of Photography Eric Steelberg makes each frame crisp and intense. Eve Stewart with her precise production design deserves an award and the special and visual effects are also award worthy.
The Verdict
5 stars. The Spengler family delight. Paul Rudd, *Seriously, is this guy ever going to age? Wrinkles avoid him like the plague.* adds so much here. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is a fun and comfortable film to watch.
Fun because of the comical dealings with the afterlife and comfortable like old house slippers. This is Ghostbusters, regardless of what you tack on the end of it. The verse is like an old friend that will not let us down. *Never mind the damage caused by the 2016 debacle.*
The film can be streamed on Netflix and rented/purchased from other areas like Prime.
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