Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? Yes.
Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? If you were a fan of the original “Ghostbusters.”
Score: 3.5/5
Secret ending? YES OMG YES
Running time: 116 minutes (2 hours)
“Ghostbusters” is a science fiction comedy that’s a reboot of the “Ghostbusters” franchise. When New York City is plagued by ghosts, a team made up of paranormal scientists and a railway worker start busting those ghosts, as they discover who is behind it. It stars Melissa McCarthy (Abby Yates), Kristen Wiig (Erin Gilbert), Kate McKinnon (Jillian Hotlzmann), Leslie Jones (Patty Tolan), Chris Hemsworth (Kevin Beckman), and Neil Casey (Rowan North). It is rated PG.
So, disclaimer – I liked the original “Ghostbusters” and I pretty much expected the 2016 “Ghostbusters” to be a remake of the original, rather than a reboot. So here’s the thing – you’ve got to go into the film understanding the premise (that they are going to shoot ghosts with lasers), but understanding that the premise is going to be executed differently. I’d probably have enjoyed it more if I didn’t have so many preconceived notions about how they the plot would play out (for example, there isn’t an ancient superbeing of destruction that’s the main antagonist here). If you come into it fresh, “Ghostbusters” is actually a spiffy new interpretation of the franchise for this generation of kids.
And yes, I like the all female team.
Highlights
Good updates to the original
Not only do the Ghostbusters have the same type of equipment (ie Proton Packs and PKE Meters) as the originals, they also include new equipment that include more melee options. This allows for some pretty cool scenes where the Ghostbusters whip the asses of the ghosts that attack them. The inclusion of Homeland Security and the references to terrorism also modernise the take on “Ghostbusters,” since these are issues that nobody would have thought of 32 years ago.
The himbotic Kevin Beckman
Chris Hemsworth stretches his acting ability a little bit more in his portrayal of the big dumb blonde Kevin, and it’s surprising how well he fares in a comedy role. He really tries his best and truly comes across as a strong simpleton, which makes you wonder how much of that is really the actor rather than the character. Still, his inclusion helps give the ladies a male damsel-in-distress and is a nice reversal of the traditional tropes.
Quirky and hilarious
Melissa McCarthy doesn’t disappoint in her role as Abby (she was really bad in The Boss) and leads the funnies of the team, rather than Erin. There’s all sorts of humour in the film, ranging from visual humour to more subtle character jokes, and the best part is that they’re more quirky, unexpected throwaway lines that tickle when you actually catch them. The only quibble I have is that many of the jokes are already in the trailer, meaning that you might be a little underwhelmed at how some of them pan out.
Letdowns
Uneven progression in competency
“Ghostbusters” is really lacking a montage sequence where we see the Ghostbusters becoming more adept at their craft as they adapt to the routine of busting ghosts. Because of that, we only see them bungling their missions and winning by sheer luck a few times, before suddenly becoming uber skilled at catching ghosts in the climax. It’s a huge leap in levels – like they went from level 10 to becoming level 55 in a matter of one day, and this sudden jump in their competency is odd, to say the least. They’ve only caught one actual ghost (and released it by accident) by the climax, and yet they’re so good at what they do.
Stakes are unclear.
The bad guy is… doing what again? The ghosts also aren’t that threatening, in the sense of what damage they can do. And without the proper exposition, we don’t actually know what’s the problem with ghosts invading the world. Are they ethereal or not, and if so, how do they determine something like that? What exactly will the villain achieve if he continues his mad plan, and how did he get that idea in the first place?
“Ghostbusters” is an entirely different spin on the franchise that’s geared for a new generation of viewers.
“Ghostbusters” opens in cinemas 14 July, 2016 (Thursday).
Leave a Reply