Original haunts Ghostbusters

I was beyond excited when it was announced that Paul Feig was rebooting with a handful of my favourite comedians.

And naturally I was shocked that such a large chunk of the movie-watching world objected to the premise.

I very much wanted this film to be so transcendental, so sidesplittingly funny, that those people would melt on the floor of their parents’ basements in remorse.

But we didn’t get that.

What we have instead is a very good, very funny, big dumb blockbuster. And I’m perfectly OK with that.

In previous comedies ( Feig’s talent has been in letting his leads’ individual comedic talents shine through.

They aren’t ‘‘lady-versions’’ of the original – instead, 2016’s ‘busters are a lovable team of outcasts in their own right.

It’s a cast that’s perhaps funnier across the board than the original, barring Bill Murray – the straitlaced one (Kristin Wiig), the paranormal-loving one (Melissa McCarthy) and the sassy transit worker (Leslie Jones).

Of the quartet, it’s Kate McKinnon’s aggressively-weird madinventor Holtzmann that steals the picture, while even Chris Hemsworth as dumb, hunky receptionist Kevin has more fun with it Director: Paul Feig

Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Chris Hemsworth

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