GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE – Revew by Susan Kamyab
Ghostbusters: Afterlife took a lot from its original source but somehow managed to create a fresh, modern day telling that focused on a relatable family storyline while providing the nostalgia audiences craved after so many decades since the first two films. However, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is overly ambition and misses the mark of what made the 80’s classics so great.
In this newest sequel, the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, making Ghostbusters new and old join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age. All the beloved cast from the previous film have returned, but this time around filmmaker Jason Reitman, son of Ivan Reitman, who directed the original movies, sticks to co-writing credits and Gil Kenan steps in as director. It’s possible this was the first mistake, as Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is a disjointed mess, bloated with too many scattered storylines.
The positive of this movie is the cast. For the most part they are talented and it’s great to see Paul Rudd, McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard and of course, the OG’s like Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, and Dan Aykroyd. They are naturals in their roles, but the downfall of this movie, is also the cast. There are too many characters, new and old, that have their own plot points that never delve into anything deep. When they do touch on anything remotely intriguing, it never goes past the surface level. Which ends up making the star powered characters feel like saturated cameos.
The new addition who does standout, producing several laughs, is Kumail Nanjiani. He plays Nadeem, the catalyst to the whole world freezing over after accidentally selling the artifact containing the demonic ghost he should have been guarding. His delivery and comedic timing make this film a lot more enjoyable. However, those moments, the decent action, and the improved CGI won’t make this movie any less forgettable. Fans of the franchise can judge for themselves but keep expectations low.i
