Film/TV

Curtains Up on Ghostbusters

Unknown

I’ll admit, I was worried. But then that theme song kicked in and….

I am a Ghostbusters fan.

It was the first film I ever saw in a theatre.  It thrilled me and scared the living daylights out of me. I was 4.  I replayed that VHS copy over and over until it wore out. I used to dress up as a Ghostbuster and play with my friends and cousins for hours on end. So me, more then anyone I know, should have an issue with Hollywood’s latest reboot. I was not amused when I heard that Paul Fieg was doing it. It made no sense to reboot perfection. You can’t redo perfection. And after seeing this latest film, the intention was never to outdo the original but to pay homage to it. And this 2016 version of Ghostbusters does that in spades.  This film is a confection. Colourful and  cotton candy light with a few good laughs.  It follows the same beats as the first film, maybe a little too close to be considered original, but entertaining enough for a trip to the movies. It’s totally forgettable, escapist fare that should please the average moviegoer.

The film stars four of today’s top comediennes, Melissa McCarthy, Kirsten Wiig, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon and they really gel as a team, much like the original foursome of Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson.  Each bring their own quirks to the roles.  One is the enthusiast, one is the straight arrow, one is the geek and the other brings in the street smarts. The first hour of the film, the set up, works well because of them. The creation of the team, the manufactuering of the equipment, their first time hunting a Ghost at an Ozzy Osborne concert…perfection.  All the character building works.  But like many effects heavy, big budget summer movies, the film suffers in the final lap by being an over the top action sequence, choppy and repetitive. The film also has a weak villain, played by funny man Neil Casey in a role that is not really funny and really kind of obvious.

But I’m nitpicking. The film works. It doesn’t deserve all the internet hate by people claiming that the filmmakers ruined their childhoods. It didn’t ruin mine. I think Ghostbusters, or any film for that matter, should be judged on it’s own merits and not internet rumours.  While it’s no classic, the film is funny, fun and made with loving care. What more can one ask for?

 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *