Ice men cometh
GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE
Cert 12A ★★★
In cinemas now
In 1984, if you found an invisible man sleeping in your bed or suffered a dose of a freaky ghost, you invariably called 555-2368 to connect to a converted firehouse in Manhattan, home to friendly neighbourhood protectors Spengler (Harold Ramis), Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), Venkman (Bill Murray) and Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson) in ectoplasm-spattered jumpsuits.
Director Ivan Reitman unleashed a gargantuan Stay Puft Marshmallow Man on New York City for the spectacular finale of his supernaturally comedic haunt, smothering the wise-cracking cast in shaving foam to replicate the aftermath of a close encounter with the hulking mascot’s melting, sugary limbs.
The film-making baton passed smoothly from father to son ( Jason Reitman) for the 2021 series reboot Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and now it passes to co-writer Gil Kenan for a frost-bitten adventure, which thaws out a motherlode of nostalgia in memory of Ivan, who died in 2022.
The next generation of Ghostbusters, comprising single mother Callie (Carrie Coon), her children Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and her seismologist boyfriend Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd) pilot the Ecto-1 Cadillac ambulance convertible through city streets, wreak havoc with proton packs, and playfully quote lyrics from Ray Parker Jr’s chart-topping theme song.
Their prime target is horned demon Garraka, released from a brass orb encrusted with hieroglyphs to usher in a new ice age. Mankind’s darkest and coldest hour necessitates slick special effects reminiscent of disaster epic The Day After Tomorrow. It’s spectacular but wildly improbable – not one hapless New Yorker is impaled on giant ice spears erupting from the ground.
Sub-zero devastation sends a chill down the spine of a heavy-handed tale of family unity in adversity with an obvious emotional pay-off. New characters including James Acaster’s kooky parabiologist evaporate surprisingly quickly from the memory but returning faces cast a warm, comforting glow. Bustin’ ghosts feels good 40 years on.
Their prime target is horned demon Garraka released from a brass orb