hunter albert

I was born in 1990, a year after Ghostbusters II was released. You would think growing up in the 90’s that I would have had an appreciation or interest for the series. But I can’t say that I ever did. It’s a huge cultural phenomenon that has spawned some hardcore fans, many of whom I have encountered over the years. I’ll never forget when a friend told me he was wearing a Ghostbusters t-shirt at a concert and an older man approached him. “Are you a true fan?” he said, as he took off his shirt and revealed a body full of Ghostbusters tattoos. Have you ever had someone ask if you’re a true fan of something? And had the tattoos all over their body to prove it? Even Taylor Swift fans are more sane than that. Well, maybe not.

I’ve always found it a little bewildering that the franchise has as hardcore fans as it does. The first film is great! The second one sucks. For young people growing up with their own Ghostbuster costumes while they drank their Hi-C Ecto-coolers, I get why it had the cultural impact it did.

Sony apparently say the potential for a return. After seeing Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire this past weekend, I can see the potential with the franchise. However, it certainly doesn’t seem like the people in charge with its return care all that much.

Perhaps the biggest sin this series is making is not letting go of the past. Ironic given that ghosts don’t let go either.

Ray Stantz (Dan Akyroyd) has a heartfelt moment where he declares that he wishes he could keep Ghostbusting for the rest of his life, just like the golden days. It’s a clear message from Dan Aykroyd and one that I’m sure resonated with every Ghostbusters fan out there.

Apparently Bill Murray didn’t get the memo. Murray gives one of the most soulless performances I can ever remember. It’s clear that he’s only on set for a paycheck and knows that movie execs and fervent fans will gladly fill his coffers with cash. I’m not convinced that Murray wasn’t actually in a coma and that his body was shocked with a car battery for him to regain consciousness long enough to blurt out his lines. Even Droopy the Dog would tell him that he needs to pep up a little bit.

Here Ghostbusters tries to delicately balance the older characters and a newer generation. What we’re left with is a purgatory where the viewer is left in a existential state. Are we going to really hang onto the past? Or is this series going to take the new characters forward and make them memorable? The cameos from the original cast offer little purpose other than nostalgia. Hell, I actually like the cast of newbies. Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Celeste O’Connor, and Logan Kim are a very solid basis that can be built upon. When they’re having to share screen time with the original cast members plus new characters, it makes for an incredibly crowded cast of characters.

Sorry Akyroyd, but it’s time to hang ’em up.

The pace of Frozen Empire is an absolute slog. We’re set up for the villain of the film early on. We’re constantly teased that this orb that contains Garraka, a bad spirit that you really don’t want loose. Garraka doesn’t escape until well past the halfway point in the movie. The film unfortunately chases unfulfilling plot points up to that point and doesn’t deliver satisfying conclusions on hardly any of them.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire can be entertaining at moments. As someone who isn’t particularly fond of the franchise, I get the appeal. I also understand that this franchise is dealing its fanbase a bad hand. If normal people who aren’t keen with this franchise are being left disappointed, I imagine the hardcore fans aren’t faring much better.

It does make me happy that when I go to sleep at night, my body isn’t covered in Ghostbuster tattoos.

★★