Ghostbusters (2016)

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     At long-last, Sony’s Columbia Pictures has debuted its revamp of the well-beloved property, Ghostbusters. If you’ve been following the news, then you know that the movie has already been the subject of quite a bit of controversy and criticism. Naturally, many fans have been concerned even with the principle of rebooting such a timeless classic—much less doing so with a new, gender-swapped cast. Fortunately, fans and newcomers alike need have no trepidation; Ghostbusters combines adept writing, a stellar cast, and fun twists on the formula to produce a movie worthy of its legendary predecessor.

     Ghostbusters follows scientists and paranormal enthusiasts Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) and Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon), as they seek to prove the existence of ghosts. Local hauntings unite the duo with long-lost friend Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) and MTA worker Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones), and sets the gang on the trail of a sinister supernatural plot. Together, they face lack of funding, incompetent receptionists, criticism, government intervention, and an apocalypse from beyond the grave.

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     A word of clarification: Ghostbusters is not a sequel to the original nor the soft-reboot we’ve become somewhat accustomed to lately (a la Jurassic World, Star Wars: The Force Awakens)—it’s a true reboot, meaning that while it bears the name of the property, it is not related to the original series. In other words, you shouldn’t expect to see the original actors reprising their roles, returning to hand the mantle of “ghostbuster” down to the next generation. Instead, we meet new characters with new relationships on their way to becoming Ghostbusters in their own right.

     Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get to it. Ghostbusters was good. Really good. I have to admit that going into the theater, I was a little skeptical. At best, I thought I was in-store for a decently funny but essentially uninspired reboot. But I was pleasantly surprised. It is true that it falls short of the original, but not nearly as much as you might expect. By sheer virtue of being a reboot, it can never match the sheer originality of, well, the original. But in almost any way you measure it, Ghostbusters stands up proudly beside its predecessor.

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     Firstly, the cast provides a stellar performance. Kate McKinnon without a doubt steals the show as eccentric scientist and weaponizer Holtzmann—and, amidst her co-stars, that’s really saying something. She brings a certain oddity to the mix that proves invaluable. Leslie Jones is a welcome breath of fresh air, and though McCarthy seems a little overshadowed by the others, she is (as always) a talented physical comedian. Interestingly, Kristen Wiig is the only one who doesn’t get a true chance to shine, but that may have to do more with the role than with her performance. The other main cast member is the Chris Hemsworth, who plays the team’s sexy and inept receptionist, Kevin Beckman. In case you’re wondering, he’s more than just eye-candy; he actually demonstrates a surprising level of comedic talent.

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     The director is Paul Feig, of Bridesmaids acclaim, who has most recently teamed up with McCarthy for her string of box office hits. He joins Katie Dippold, who worked on the popular series Parks and Rec and McCarthy’s Sandra Bullock team-up The Heat, in the writing room. The comedy is definitely written with a modern voice, but it seems appealing enough to draw in a more cross-generational audience. Case in point: my dad, a devoted fan of the original and self-proclaimed skeptic of the reboot, was laughing like crazy. 

     And that’s the important part: Ghostbusters is really, really, funny—which is, obviously, what we should expect from a comedy. The team brings out everything from snappy one-liners to outright slapstick. There’s a fair amount of cheese, but I was surprised by the cleverness displayed in many of the jokes. And in the world of Deadpool and other raunchy flicks, it’s refreshing to see a return to genuine, good-natured humor in a family-oriented context. That being said, the movie’s not entiiiirely clean, but the dirty jokes are the type that should slip right past younger, more sensitive ears.

photo courtesy of themarysue.com

     Many of the original Ghostbusters cast make short cameo appearances throughout the film, which is part reverent homage to their comedic greatness and part cash-grab, but it’s fun to watch. Overall, references to the original are done tastefully and sparingly, and the movie thankfully resists being dependent on them. It acknowledges them with a wink and then presses on into the new story without being beholden to the old. The last, most touching tribute comes at the end of the credits, when the film is dedicated to Harold Ramis, the only original ghostbuster to have passed away since the 1984 release.

     Some have expressed disappointment with the boldness of the movie, as if it didn’t push things far enough or explore new territory. It “settled,” they say. To them I’d say, yes, the movie is fairly straightforward, and the plot is relatively uninspired—but so was that of The Avengers. That’s simply not what this movie is trying to do; it’s trying to be a hilarious, rip-roaring and occasionally unsettlingly-spooky good time at the theaters—just like the original. For what it’s worth, Ghostbusters succeeds in that goal.

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     One slightly disappointing aspect of the film is that is does seem to fall prey to the demands of the modern blockbuster by including a huge action sequence toward the climax of the film. I had hoped Feig and company would resist that impulse (and they threaten to!), but the temptation proves too strong in the end and our female Ghostbusters engage in a full-on ghost onslaught that feels a little out of place in an oddball comedy. But while it all seems a little over-the-top and unnecessary, the fight itself is fun and funny enough that it almost justifies its existence. McKinnon again stands out as the true star of the show when she’s wielding her ghost-busting weapons in that scene.

photo courtesy of ghostbusters.com

     In short, Ghostbusters was a rollicking good time. Excellent writing and superb cast of leading ladies make the film something that long-time fans of the franchise and uninitiated newcomers should feel at home with. It may not be everyone’s scene, but it’s good enough to stand up next to the original, and that’s no faint praise.

     

     Oh, and there’s an after-the-credits scene.