Bustin’ still makes you feel good... just Sequelta k e s toolongtogetgoing
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Cinemas ●●●●●
Set three years after the events of Afterlife, Frozen Empire sees the new Busters living in New York, where an ancient artefact unleashes an evil force that threatens the whole world.
The previous film’s co-writer Gil Kenan (Monster House, Poltergeist remake) takes over from Jason Reitman (back as part of the story team) in the director’s chair, and he takes a similar nostalgic approach.
The trailer hinted at an action and spook-heavy adventure with very high stakes but it takes a long while for Frozen Empire to get going.
The first hour is very dialogue and exposition heavy and while it does a pretty good job of building up the threat posed by the main antagonist, it doesn’t make for the finest viewing.
There are also far too many characters thrown at us. You already have the new and old Busters, so pop in a new villain, Kumail Nanjiani’s Nadeem, Emily Alyn Lind’s Melody, British comedian James
Acaster (Lars) and others and there’s not enough screen time to go around.
Consequently, the likes of Finn Wolfhard (Trevor), Bill Murray (Peter), Ernie Hudson (Winston) and Annie Potts (Janine) are given little to do, and there isn’t much development in Paul Rudd (Gary) and Carrie Coon’s (Callie) relationship.
Rudd is his usual reliable charming self, though, while Mckenna Grace (Phoebe) impresses in the film’s most well-rounded role, Dan Aykroyd (Ray) seizes his meaty part and it was great to see the original movie’s Walter Peck (William Atherton) return – with even more power.
The Busters’ new technology, such as a drone trap, allows Kenan extra freedom with his camera, swooping in and out of the fire house and along the streets of New York.
When the villain finally unleashes his full chilly powers, he’s an intimidating force and the team-up required to take him on is a crowd-pleaser.
But the original 1984 Ghostbusters remains comfortably on its classic perch as while Frozen Empire raises spirits and smiles, it even falls below the far-fromperfect Afterlife.
●What are your thoughts on the Ghostbusters movies? Which ones are your favourites?
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