PG-13 2024 Comedy/Fantasy 1h 55m
Busting makes me feel meh. I enjoy the Ghostbusters franchise and thought the last one (Ghostbusters: Afterlife) was a clever move forward and a nice homage to the original movies. With writer/director Jason Reitman, we were in good hands to take over from his father. Jason Reitman is credited as one of the writers but not the director of Frozen Empire, which has made a noticeable difference. Frozen Empire is just not as good. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad but it’s closer to average than it is to great. I think if Reitman directed this same script, it could have been much better.
Frozen Empire takes place two years after the events of Afterlife. For various reasons, the characters introduced in Oklahoma in the last movie have all relocated to Manhattan and are joined by the surviving original Ghostbusters. The original Ghostbusters are secondary characters but more than cameos; these actors know what they are doing and are fine. Although, I will say there were too many shots of Dan Aykroyd smiling and admiring the next generation of Ghostbusters. A few adult characters are added to the world of the occult: Patton Oswald, Kumail Nanjiani, and James Acaster; again, they hold their weight. The biggest problem comes from the next generation of Ghostbusters. There are four actors in their teens/early twenties whose performances could have been buoyed significantly by better direction. All four of these performers were in the last movie and were fine. In Frozen Empire, there were moments of Disney Channel/Nickelodeon overacting. Some of the themes of the meaning of family are also directed with the subtly of a Fast & Furious movie.
I wish the movie was better because I would love for there to be another Ghostbusters movie that could wrap up the series neatly. I don’t know that this one will do well enough to justify a sequel. I can’t recommend going to the theater to see it. Wait to stream it and have low expectations. Then you may be pleasantly surprised because it does have some nice moments.
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