Despite being the eighth highest-grossing film of 1989, Columbia considered Ghostbusters II a critical and commercial failure. Because of this, plans for a third entry stalled, though talks of another film popped up over the years. While most everyone was on board, Bill Murray was very reluctant about returning, given how lackluster the second installment was. Several writers tossed numerous scripts, but eventually, the studio chose to reboot the franchise primarily due to Murray’s reluctance. After Harold Ramis’ passing in 2014, Ivan Reitman stayed as a producer while the studio decided Paul Feig to direct. Unfortunately, the reboot was under fire due to Feig’s insistence on an all-female cast, casting a shadow on the production. While plenty of hardened fans were disappointed by the changes, many of the people involved labeled them “entitled” and “misogynist.” Finally, in July of 2016, the dreaded reboot of Ghostbusters made its way into theaters.
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Synopsis
Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) is a professor at Columbia University who has been trying to make tenure for years. Unfortunately, someone uncovers an old book she wrote about ghosts with her former partner Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy). She ends up going with Abby and her partner Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon), to investigate the Aldridge Mansion. While there, they encounter a ghost and post a vlog declaring that ghosts exist, but they all get fired. Despite the firing, they decide to set up on top of a Chinese restaurant and start a business catching ghosts. Former MTA staffer Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones) joins them after seeing ghosts in the New York subway. It turns out the recent surge of spirits is because of disgruntled hotel employee Rowan North (Neil Casey). He plans on bringing about the apocalypse, but will our female Ghostbusters be able to save the world?
Review
The 2016 Ghostbusters isn’t one of the worst movies ever made, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good movie. Even as its own thing, this is a comedy where almost none of the jokes land, and it’s embarrassing. The biggest issue is that none of the actresses know when to stop and are just rambling. It feels like Paul Feig thought they were so funny that anything they came up with was gold. There’s nothing wrong with actors adlibbing, but there comes the point where they have to stick to the script. Granted, it doesn’t help when the actresses are just playing exaggerated versions of characters from the original. For instance, Kate McKinnon is playing the Egon Spengler role if you dialed the quirkiness to 11. She’s having fun with the part, but it starts to get irritating very quickly, much like the other cast members.
Honestly, I found Chris Hemsworth to be the funniest one, perfectly fitting the role of the loveable lunkhead. I can’t say the same for Neil Casey, who plays every single stereotypical basement-dwelling self-proclaimed intellectual you’ve ever seen. That’s not even getting into the cameos from the original cast, most of whom look downright embarrassed to be here. Also, it says something when the effects in the 1984 film have more creativity than the CGI cartoons shown here. For the record, the idea of an all-female Ghostbusters movie isn’t necessarily terrible, but it could’ve been so much better. This film might’ve turned out decent with a better script and a director who cared about the source material. Instead, it’s a black stain on a beloved franchise that audiences will quickly forget while the originals remain. Overall, the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot should’ve stayed in the containment unit instead of being set free.
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