Avid Ghostbusters are in for a blast from the past!
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Don't let the name fool you into thinking this new instalment has anything to do with 2016's Ghostbusters. If anything, Jason Reitman's Ghostbusters: Afterlife will help make you forget it ever happened. But is it enough to live up to the legacy of the iconic franchise?
The film begins with Dr Egon Spengler (the late great Harold Ramis), failing to trap a ghost which causes his death - we would later find that he had passed from a heart attack. Ramis posthumously appears in scenes with Egon through archival clips taken from the original two films. I must say, his character (despite not having his face shown initially) was put across quite well. It did not feel as if his presence was made for the sake of delivering nostalgia, but in fact, his appearance builds a foundation for the film.
Carrie Coon plays the role of Callie Spengler, Egon’s daughter. Living with her two children, Trevor and Phoebe (Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace), the film continues to elaborate on the plight of the family. They move to Egon's dilapidated farmhouse in the countryside in hopes of starting over.
The film continues to revolve around the life of the family adjusting to their new surroundings in Summerville, Oklahoma. Carrie meets charming and charismatic Gary Grooberson (People's 2021 Sexiest Man Alive Paul Rudd), who also turns out to be Phoebe’s teacher. We come to find that he has a certain knack for all things ghost-related, and the supernatural encounters develop from here.
To save you from any spoilers, I’ll cut to the chase on what I think of the film. Loyal fans of the original films would be pleased to know that the latest installment is filled with all sorts of Easter eggs for them to catch. Unfortunately, a few punchlines in the film fall flat. The only comedic highlights of the film occur when the dialogue is effortlessly dry, which is mostly thanks to Podcast's (Logan Kim) witty charm.
The latter parts of the film, punctuated by vibrantly-designed phantoms and exhilarating chase sequences, will pacify those who believed that a Ghostbusters sequel was unnecessary.
What the film lacks in storytelling, it makes up for in bombastic scenes and definitely deserves credit for that. It gets pretty ridiculous at times but makes the film entertaining enough for it to be a good thing.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is definitely one to watch for a nostalgic and emotional experience for audiences both young and old.
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