Review: "GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE" is Lukewarm

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 16 of 2024 (No. 1960) by Leroy Douresseaux

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

Running time:  115 minutes (1 hour, 55 minutes)

MPA – PG-13 for supernatural action/violence, language and suggestive references

DIRECTOR:  Gil Kenan

WRITERS:  Gil Kenan and Jason Reitman (based on the film, Ghost Busters, written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis and directed by Ivan Reitman)

PRODUCERS:  Jason Reitman, Jason Blumenfeld, and Ivan Reitman

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Eric Steelberg

EDITORS:  Nathan Orloff and Shane Reid

COMPOSER:  Dario Marianelli

FANTASY/COMEDY/ACTION/MYSTERY

Starring:  Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, Logan Kim, Celeste O'Connor, Ernie Hudson, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Emily Alyn Lind, James Acaster, Dan Ackroyd, Annie Potts, William Atherton, and Bill Murray

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is a 2024 supernatural comedy, action and mystery film from director Gil Kenan.  It is the fifth entry in the Ghostbusters film franchise, and it is the third sequel to the original film, 1984's Ghost Busters (now known as “Ghostbusters”).  In Frozen Empire, the old and new Ghostbusters must take on an evil force unleashed from an ancient artifact.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire opens in New York City in 1904 where a group of fireman enters a hotel suite and finds an entire party frozen solid in the middle of an extremely hot summer.  In the present day, Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon) and her two children, son, Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), and daughter, Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), have moved from Summerville, Oklahoma to New York City, with Phoebe's former summer school teacher, Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd), in tow.  The four live in the old Ghostbusters' NYC firehouse that had been maintained by original Ghostbuster, Dr. Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson).

Now, Phoebe, Trevor, Callie, and Gary are the active Ghostbusters, but a particular Ghostbusting case leads to significant damage in the city.  That brings them to the attention of the mayor and leads to Phoebe being forced out of the Ghostbusters because she is underage at 15-years-old.  But the world of the supernatural does not stop because of the human world's concerns.

Original Ghostbuster, Dr. Raymond “Ray” Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), has come into possession of a peculiar artifact, which he turns over to Winston Zeddemore's top-secret research lab.  Meanwhile, Phoebe, sidelined as a Ghostbuster, is trying to find her place in the world of the Ghostbusters.  Then, Garraka, an ancient god, is freed.  He wants to gather all the ghosts ever captured by the Ghostbusters and turn them into his personal army as he brings about a new ice age.  Despite her troubles, Phoebe will have to figure out how to stop the ancient evil that is Garraka before it's too late.

I was a huge fan of the original Ghostbusters films, Ghostbusters (1984) and its sequel, Ghostbusters II (1989).  I enjoyed Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), and I thought that film's teen characters, siblings Phoebe and Trevor, and their friends, Podcast (Logan Kim) and Lucky Domingo (Celeste O'Connor), made a great foundation for the new Ghostbusters.

Thus, I was surprised to see Phoebe and Trevor playing Ghostbusters with the adults, their mother, Callie, and their quasi-stepfather, Gary.  Honestly, I find Carrie Coon's Callie and Paul Rudd's Gary to be extraneous here.  I have no interest in their characters beyond what they did in Ghostbusters: Afterlife.  In fact, this film has too many characters.  Bill Murray's Dr. Peter Venkman, Annie Potts' Janine Melnitz, and William Atherton's Mayor Walter Peck are also mostly irrelevant.  Pretty much everything these characters do could have been passed off to other characters or deleted because it wasn't important enough to clutter up the narrative.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire spends much of its first half meandering around assorted relationship dysfunction, including one involving a ghost.  Then, the film rushes to a forced satisfactory conclusion that wastes a truly scary monster in Garraka.  I am glad that Ernie Hudson's Winston Zeddemore has a substantial part in this film, especially because Hudson spent the first two films fighting off Columbia Pictures' executives and Ghostbusters cast mates who were determined to sideline his character.

As a franchise, Ghostbusters needs to move on from its past or just die.  The young characters:  Phoebe and Trevor Spengler, Podcast, and Lucky Domingo are the franchise's present and true future.  When this Ghostbusters film focuses on them, it feels alive and is fun.  When it doesn't, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is frozen and freezer-burned.

[This film has one mid-credits scene.]

5 out of 10

C+

★★½ out of 4 stars

Friday, March 22, 2024

The text is copyright © 2024 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: Young Stars Bring "GHOSTBUSTERS: Afterlife" to Life

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 66 of 2021 (No. 1804) by Leroy Douresseaux

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
Running time:  124 minutes (2 hours, 4 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for supernatural action and some suggestive references
DIRECTOR:  Jason Reitman
WRITERS:  Gil Kenan and Jason Reitman (based on the film, Ghost Busters, written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis)
PRODUCER:  Ivan Reitman
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Eric Steelberg
EDITORS:  Dana E. Glauberman and Nathan Orloff
COMPOSER:  Rob Simonsen

FANTASY/MYSTERY/ACTION/COMEDY

Starring:  Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, Logan Kim, Celeste O'Connor, and Bokeem Woodbine with Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and Annie Potts

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a 2021 supernatural comedy, action and mystery film from director Jason Reitman.  It is the fourth entry in the Ghostbusters film franchise and is a kind of sequel to the original film, 1984's Ghost Busters (now known as “Ghostbusters”), which was directed by Jason's father, Ivan Reitman.  In Afterlife, a single mother and her two children arrive in small town Oklahoma, and the children discover their grandfather's amazing and secret legacy.

Thirty-two years after the events of Ghostbusters II (1989), Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon) and her two children, son Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and daughter Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), arrive in Summerville, Oklahoma.  Currently homeless, they will try to make a new home in the rundown farmhouse owned by Callie's late father, Egon Spengler.  While rooting through some of Egon's belongings, Phoebe discovers a P.K.G. Meter (a ghost-tracking device).  While digging around, Trevor finds a beat-up old car that sports the “Ghostbusters” logo.

Phoebe, who does not believe in the supernatural, makes a friend, a boy named “Podcast” (Logan Kim), who believes in the strange and unusual and discusses it in his podcast.  Trevor makes a friend in a local, a teen girl named Lucky Domingo (Celeste O'Connor).  Eventually, the children discover that Phoebe's summer school teacher, Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd), is quite familiar with their grandfather, Egon's legacy as a scientist, an inventor, and a member of “Ghostbusters,” the ghost-catching organization that was famous for its activities in 1980s New York City.  Now, the four youngsters and Callie and Gary must face the same great evil that once confronted the original Ghostbusters.

I was a huge fan of the original Ghostbusters films.  When I first saw Ghost Busters in a movie theater in 1984, I laughed so much that the other people in the theater were giving me the side eye.  I enjoyed the sequel, Ghostbusters II (1989), although many people I knew at the time did not like it all that much.  Still, I was happy, but over the years, Ghostbusters became a fond memory that I sometimes relived via my cable TV package.  In the years that followed Ghostbusters II, there was always talk of a third Ghostbusters film, but I was only mildly interested.

For some people, however, the Ghostbuster films and the related merchandise became a lifestyle choice, something to which they dedicated themselves as if it were hobby, a second career, and maybe even a quasi-religion.  Those were the people who claimed to have been traumatized by the 2016 franchise reboot, Ghostbusters, which featured an all-female cast as the Ghostbusters (and which may have since been re-titled “Ghostbusters: Answer the Call”).  I was only mildly interested in that film, and have seen most of it via cable TV.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is supposed to remedy the trauma of Ghostbusters 2016.  Afterlife director Jason Reitman once said that his film was giving Ghostbusters “back to the fans.”  I never felt like something had been taken from me.  After all, as I've said, I can see the original films at least a few times a week on television.  That said, I do like Afterlife.

Reitman offers an exciting film that is as much a mystery film as it is a comedy, and the secrets of the town of Summerville and its surroundings are quite intriguing and provide a nice setting for the story.  I do wish that the film had given us more on the town and its inhabitants.  However, there is much focus on the darkness at the edge of town – the big bad supernatural being.  Reitman and his co-writer, Gil Kenan, work overtime to make sure everyone understands that the villain is connected to the events of the original film.  I didn't find that connection necessary, but I understand why Reitman and Sony Pictures felt that it was very important to make a hard connection between the events of 1984 and the events of 2021.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife's shining light isn't the desperation to connect to a 37-year-old movie.  Afterlife's true treasures are its young stars:  Mckenna Grace as Phoebe, Finn Wolfhard as Trevor, Celeste O'Connor as Lucky, and Logan Kim as Podcast.  As Phoebe, Grace is totally capable of carrying this film's emotional center and of stabilizing its subplots and narrative threads until they come together.  When Jason Reitman focuses on his young cast, turning them into young supernatural investigators and Ghostbusters, Afterlife explodes with life and has all the magic of an old-fashioned summer blockbuster movie in spite of its November release date.

Yes, it was good to see the original cast members.  No, Paul Rudd is not the star of Afterlife, as the film's trailers and commercials suggest, but he is important to the development of the story.  Yes, Carrie Coon is good as the kid's mother, Callie.  However, it is time for this franchise to move on from nostalgia and fanservice if it is going to have a future.  These four young actors and four new characters are why Ghostbusters: Afterlife can be a true resurrection story.

7 out of 10
B+

Friday, November 19, 2021


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Three Ghostbusters Directors Gather at "Ghostbuster Fan Fest" on June 8th

Ivan Reitman, Paul Feig And Jason Reitman To Come Together For The First-Ever Directors’ Panel At Ghostbusters™ Fan Fest Presented By Wizard World June 8, 2019

Directors Of The Original 1984 Film, Ghostbusters II, 2016 Reboot and the Upcoming 2020 Project To Participate On a Directors’ Panel In Celebration Of the Franchise’s 35th Anniversary On The Sony Pictures Studio Lot

CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The once-in-a-lifetime Ghostbusters Fan Fest presented by Wizard World just got a little more special with today’s announcement of the first-ever panel featuring the directors of all four of the franchise’s feature films. Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II (1989)), Paul Feig (Ghostbusters 2016) and Jason Reitman (Ghostbusters-2020) will join to discuss the franchise on the main stage as a prime feature of the blockbuster event, Saturday, June 8, 2019 on the famed Sony Pictures Studio Lot in Culver City, Calif.

    @paulfeig joins the @ghostbusters Fan Fest June 8 on the @sonypictures lot, in a first-ever panel with Ivan and Jason Reitman @wizardworld WhoYaGonnaCall

The Q&A session, part of a daylong celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the original film and 30th of Ghostbusters II, will be open to all Ghostbusters Fan Fest attendees. Class 1, 3, 5 and 10 attendees will have priority seating based on the benefits of their respective tickets.

Feig, who served as both the co-writer (along with Katie Dippold) and director of the 2016 entry in the franchise, is the latest addition to the Ghostbusters Fan Fest celebrity lineup. The creator of “Freaks and Geeks” and director of Bridesmaids, The Heat, Spy and A Simple Favor, Feig has produced, directed, written and acted in films and TV series for more than 30 years.

In addition to participating in the panel, Feig will greet fans, pose for photo ops and sign autographs during the Fan Fest.

“The Directors’ Panel is one of the featured elements that will make Ghostbusters Fan Fest presented by Wizard World memorable for every fan,” said John D. Maatta, President & CEO, Wizard World. “Fans will be able to hear stories from the directors of every Ghostbusters film! This amazing collection of talented filmmakers can only happen at Ghostbusters Fan Fest.”

Jeffrey Godsick, Executive Vice President, Brand Strategy and Global Partnerships for Sony Pictures adds, “We’re excited to have Paul Feig join Ivan and Jason on stage. The Directors’ Panel is the perfect way to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of such a beloved franchise and we’re looking forward to bring these talented filmmakers to some of their biggest fans.”

In addition to the famed directors, headliners scheduled to attend Ghostbusters Fan Fest include Ghostbusters (1984) stars Dan Aykroyd (Dr. Raymond Stantz) and Ernie Hudson (Winston Zeddemore), theme song singer-songwriter Ray Parker Jr., Violet Ramis Stiel, daughter of Ghostbusters writer and actor Harold Ramis, and author of Ghostbusters Daughter: Life with My Dad, Harold Ramis. Numerous supporting cast and crew will be in attendance. Fans will take part in a non-stop series of interactive experiences, live music, costumes, meetups, impersonators, reenactors and more all day.

Other popular guests from the Ghostbusters universe scheduled to attend include William Atherton (“Walter Peck,” Ghostbusters 1984), Joe Medjuck (producer, Ghostbusters 1984, Ghostbusters II, The Real Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters 2016, Sheldon Kahn (editor, Ghostbusters 1984, Ghostbusters II), Maurice LaMarche (“Dr. Egon Spengler,” The Real Ghostbusters) and Dave Coulier (“Dr. Peter Venkman,” The Real Ghostbusters).

Cast and crew also scheduled to attend include, actors Mark Bryan Wilson (“Slimer”), Billy Bryan (“Stay Puft”), Jennifer Runyon (“female student”), Timothy Carhart (“violinist”), Steve Tash (“male student”), Tom Morga (stunt double, “Dr. Egon Spengler,” others), Tony Cecere (stunts); crew: Steve Johnson (visual effects/sculptor); from Ghostbusters II, appearing are actors Robin Shelby (“Slimer”), Tim Lawrence (“Scoleri brother”) and Jim Fye (“Scoleri brother”).

The evening before, Friday, June 7, 2019, fans can attend a special 35th Anniversary screening of the original 1984 Ghostbusters film with introduction by Dan Aykroyd and Ivan Reitman, on the Sony Pictures Studio Lot.

Following the event on June 7-8, Wizard World will continue its Ghostbusters touring experience at its conventions throughout the country featuring a pop-up shop featuring exclusive Ghostbusters merchandise. Details will be linked at www.wizardworld.com.

Tickets for the premier event are on sale now at https://tixr.com/pr/gbffpr/12066. Packages range in price from a just added $149.99 general admission ticket to $1499 for the ultimate VIP experience, with autographs and photo ops included in some packages.

Fans can learn more about the Ghostbusters Fan Fest presented by Wizard World at http://www.ghostbusters.com/news/ghostbusters-fan-fest.


About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., which is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. SPE’s Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, and Sony Pictures Classics. For additional information, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html.

About Ghost Corps
Ghost Corps, Inc., a subsidiary of Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., is focused on expanding the Ghostbusters brand with live-action feature films, animated motion pictures, television, merchandise, and other new entertainment products. Ghost Corps is headquartered on the Sony Pictures Studios lot in Culver City, Calif.

About Wizard Entertainment, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD)
Wizard Entertainment, Inc. (www.wizardworld.com) produces comic, gaming and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate the best in pop culture: movies, television, gaming, live entertainment, tech, comics, sci-fi, graphic novels, toys, original art, collectibles, contests and more. A first-class lineup of topical programming and entertainment takes place at each event, with celebrity Q&A's, comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Wizard Entertainment has also teamed with Sony Pictures Entertainment to find the next generation of movies as well as to engage in a number of strategic initiatives. Fans can interact with Wizard Entertainment at www.wizardworld.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and other social media services.

The 2019 Wizard World convention schedule is available at: http://www.wizardworld.com/comiccon.

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Jason Reitman to Appear at "Ghostbusters Fan Fest" in June

Jason Reitman, the Director and Co-Writer of Sony Pictures’ Upcoming Ghostbusters™ Film, to Attend Ghostbusters™ Fan Fest Presented by Wizard World June 7-8, 2019

Joins Dan Aykroyd, Ivan Reitman, Plus Stars of the 1984 Original Film and ‘The Real Ghostbusters’ Series For Live Event On Sony Pictures Studio Lot Celebrating Ghostbusters’ 35th Anniversary

CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As fans get ready for a new chapter of the Ghostbusters universe, attendees of the first-ever Ghostbusters Fan Fest, presented by Wizard World, will hear from Jason Reitman, the director and co-writer (with Gil Kenan) of Sony Pictures’ upcoming 2020 Ghostbusters film, on the famed Sony Pictures Studio Lot this June 7th and 8th, 2019 in Culver City, California. With Ghostbusters (1984) stars Dan Aykroyd (Dr. Raymond Stantz), Ernie Hudson (Winston Zeddemore) and director and producer Ivan Reitman already slated to attend the event with several other stars from across the franchise and a bevy of themed activities, it’s the ultimate, once-in-a-lifetime celebration of everything Ghostbusters.

    Director/writer @JasonReitman will attend @Ghostbusters Fan Fest presented by @WizardWorld, June 7-8 at the @SonyPictures Lot in Culver City, Calif. #whoyagonnacall

“I am thrilled that my role of Brownstone Boy #2 will finally be given proper recognition. Might also chat about the upcoming Ghostbusters film,” said Jason Reitman.

Reitman is a four-time Academy Award® nominated filmmaker. He made his feature film debut with the 2006 Sundance hit, Thank You For Smoking. Reitman notably earned Academy Award® nominations for directing Juno and Up In The Air, the latter of which earned him a Golden Globe® Award, WGA Award and BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay. Other films include Young Adult, Tully, and The Front Runner. Reitman also produced four seasons of the Hulu comedy series, "Casual" through his Right of Way Films. He also executive produced the Academy Award®-winning film Whiplash, Karyn Kusama’s Jennifer’s Body and Jean-Marc Vallee’s Demolition.

Jeffrey Godsick, EVP, Brand Management and Global Partnerships, Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group said: “We’re excited to be collaborating with Jason Reitman on this new chapter in the franchise. This will be a unique opportunity for fans to get a sneak peek of Jason’s vision for the film. The Ghostbusters Fan Fest is shaping up as a can’t-miss celebration of Ghostbusters and we couldn’t be more pleased that Jason will be such a big part of it.”

John D. Maatta, CEO of Wizard Entertainment said: “We will continue to bring additional value to fans to ensure the greatest Ghostbusters experience imaginable on June 7 and 8 on the Sony Pictures Studio Lot. Adding Jason to Ghostbusters Fan Fest is the next big step and one that fans will be excited to hear about.”

In addition to the Reitman's, Aykroyd and Hudson, Ghostbusters Fan Fest standout guests include Ghostbusters theme song singer-songwriter Ray Parker Jr., The Real Ghostbusters animated series (1986-91) headliners Maurice LaMarche (Dr. Egon Spengler), Frank Welker (Dr. Raymond Stantz) and Dave Coulier (Dr. Peter Venkman). Fans will participate in exclusive panels with the stars and original crew members, meet the Ghostbusters creators, talent and crew and experience Ghostbusters augmented reality gaming. Other planned Ghostbusters-themed activities include a screening of the original film, a special musical performance by Parker, costume contests, meet-ups, documentary screenings, laser tag, interactive photo booths, exhibitor booths, and much more.

Following the event on June 7-8, Wizard World will continue its Ghostbusters touring experience at its conventions throughout the country featuring a pop-up shop featuring exclusive Ghostbusters merchandise. Details will be linked at www.wizardworld.com.

Tickets for the premier event are on sale now at https://tixr.com/pr/gbffpr/12066. Packages range in price from a just added $149.99 general admission ticket to $1499 for the ultimate VIP experience, with autographs and photo ops included in some packages.

Fans can learn more about the Ghostbusters Fan Fest presented by Wizard World at http://www.ghostbusters.com/news/ghostbusters-fan-fest.


About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., which is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. SPE’s Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, and Sony Pictures Classics. For additional information, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html.

About Ghost Corps
Ghost Corps, Inc., a subsidiary of Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., is focused on expanding the Ghostbusters brand with live-action feature films, animated motion pictures, television, merchandise, and other new entertainment products. Ghost Corps is headquartered on the Sony Pictures Studios lot in Culver City, Calif.

About Wizard Entertainment, Inc. (OTCQB:WIZD)
Wizard Entertainment, Inc. (www.wizardworld.com) produces comic, gaming and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate the best in pop culture: movies, television, gaming, live entertainment, tech, comics, sci-fi, graphic novels, toys, original art, collectibles, contests and more. A first-class lineup of topical programming and entertainment takes place at each event, with celebrity Q&A's, comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Wizard Entertainment has also teamed with Sony Pictures Entertainment to find the next generation of movies as well as to engage in a number of strategic initiatives. Fans can interact with Wizard Entertainment at www.wizardworld.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and other social media services.

The 2019 Wizard World convention schedule is available at: http://www.wizardworld.com/comiccon.

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