Calling up the past
Original cast returns to add much-needed firepower to a franchise now in its 40th year
The fifth movie to hail from the Ghostbusters universe arrives just in time to commemorate the franchise’s 40th anniversary.
Though definitely overloaded with nostalgic shoutouts to the ’Busters’ 1980s heyday, Frozen Empire does not just repeat the former glories of the good old days.
In fact, this new instalment’s determination to maintain its feelgood forward momentum at all times will definitely keep this much-loved series going for some years to come.
While it does help if you have seen the 2021 box-office hit Ghostbusters: Afterlife – if only to keep track of who’s who in the new-character department – rookie viewers won’t be playing catch-up for long.
That’s all thanks to a ripping opening chase sequence in which those next-generation Ghostbusters from Afterlife pursue the bizarre reincarnation of a translucent flying anaconda all over Manhattan.
Once the dust has settled (and some major damage is done), we learn that the descendants of original ’Buster Egon Spengler have now relocated from their base in rural Oklahoma to the founders’ traditional firehouse HQ in New York City.
Teenage paranormal prodigies Phoebe (McKenna Grace) and Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) have upscaled their skills since we last saw them.
As for their mother Callie (Carrie Coon), she has now incorporated boyfriend Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd) into the family unit in a trainee-stepfather role.
While the Spenglers seem wellequipped to dispense with most modern ghosts, they may need additional firepower to handle a new threat of ancient origin.
Let’s not get too bogged down in details about a mysterious gizmo that has the potential to trigger the next Ice Age, and also release a chilling brand of spectral evil.
All that really matters is that the Spenglers are going to need the help of all surviving pioneering Ghostbusters to save the day.
While it is pleasing to see original cast members Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Annie Potts suited-up and back in action, the really good stuff doesn’t start happening until OG Ghostbuster Bill Murray makes a belated entrance as the delightfully deadpan Peter Venkman.
With Kumail Nanjiani also bringing added comic relief as an unlikely new recruit to the team, the second half of Frozen Empire well and truly outshines the first.
There are more than enough ghouls, goo and goofy wisecracks to justify yet another movie, which should be recommendation enough.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is now showing in general release