A One Mann’s Movies review of “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (2024).
I went into “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” with low expectations and they were pretty universally met. It bends over backwards to tick the ‘Ghostbusters’ boxes. So much so that it sticks its head up its own spectral deformity.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
When Ray Stanz (Dan Ackroyd) receives a strange object from wide-boy Nadeem Razmaadi (Kumail Nanjiani) a terrifying ancient force is unleashed. It takes the talents of the original Ghostbusters and the new generation to combat the threat to New York and the world.
Certification:
UK: 12; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC web site: “Moderate threat, horror, sex references, implied strong language”.)
Talent:
Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Dan Ackroyd, Bill Murray, Kumail Nanjiani, Finn Wolfhard, McKenna Grace, Celeste O’Connor, Logan Kim, Emily Alyn Lind, James Acaster, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, William Atherton.
Directed by: Gil Kenan.
Written by: Gil Kenan & Jason Reitman. (Based on the 1984 film by Ivan Reitman, Dan Aykroyd &
Harold Ramis.)
Twitter Handle: #Ghostbusters; #GBFrozenEmpire.
Running Time: 1h 55m.
Again, McKenna Grace is the best thing in the movie… 2 out of 2. (Source: Columbia Pictures).
“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” Review:
Positives:
- Once again, as for “Ghostbusters: Afterlife“, the best thing in the film is young McKenna Grace playing the bright but underage Phoebe Spengler. The 17-year-old here plays Phoebe as a 15-year-old with emerging lesbian tendencies and forming a sweet relationship with a 16-year-old ghost (played equally sweetly by Emily Alyn Lind). These were the most enjoyable moments in the film for me. Grace actually gets to play a prominent role in the film and she does it well. Looking at her filmography since “Afterlife” on IMDB, it’s a bit disappointing. She needs to get a better agent… and/or someone needs to give her a better film role outside of this franchise.
- It’s impressive that they have gathered so many of the cast from the 1984 film: as well as Dan Ackroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson and Annie Potts, we also have William Atherton reprising his role of the annoyed New York politician Walter Peck.
Negatives:
- Sigh. I wasn’t a mad fan of the last Ghostbusters outing (“Afterlife”). But I was hoping this New York-set follow-up might be better. But it struck me as a bit of a mess; a jumble of Ghostbusters-related vignettes, designed to tick all of the buttons of Ghostbuster fans. For example – coincidental to all the other stuff that’s going on! – Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) discovers that greedy ghost Slimer in the attic. Most of these scenes are totally superfluous to the plot. (‘Slimer box’… ticked!).
- Bill Murray is criminally under-used in the film. He is only really present in one scene prior to an extended ‘presence’ in the third reel. And there is only one line (the “Tall, Dark and Horny” one) that really felt like a line worthy of Murray. Very disappointing.
- Paul Rudd is a personable enough actor, but – I’m sorry – his happy clappy schtick just got tiresome for me, well before the mid-point of the film. James Acaster – never one of my favourite comedians – was also as funny as a wet fish to me in this. And don’t get me started with Podcast (Logan Kim): such an irritating character.
- There are not one but TWO extraordinary continuity errors of such massive proportions that you think “didn’t the film-makers ever watch their finished film back”? I won’t spoil the fun…. see if you can spot them!
From left, Celeste O’Connor, reprising her role of Lucky from “Afterlife”, Finn Wolfhard, James Acaster and Logan Kim . (Source: Columbia Pictures).
Summary Thoughts on “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”
Please. Make. It. Stop.
Trailer for “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpOBXh02rVc .
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