 |
| (Courtesy Logo Design Love) |
WRITER’S NOTE: Except for the first and last ones, the following reviews were originally posted on my Instagram page @be.kerian.
Ghostbusters (1984)
Ghostbusters is a classic movie, there’s no denying it. It wasn’t the first time that different genres have been seamlessly combined. But Ghostbusters took that blend of supernatural horror, science-fiction, special effects, and improvisational dialogue, and elevated it to a whole new level. After all, director Ivan Reitman, writers Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, and co-stars Bill Murray and Rick Moranis, had been involved with some of the most popular comedy films and T.V. shows of the era. This marked the first time they’ve all worked together on the same project.
The quirky characters remain iconic, from the carefree Peter Venkman (Murray) to fascination-fanatic Ray Stantz (Aykroyd), Twinkie-loving straight man Egon Spengler (Ramis), new-recruit Winston (Ernie Hudson), motormouth tenant Lewis Tully (Moranis), the beautiful Dana Berrett (Sigourney Weaver), and deadpan receptionist Janine (Annie Potts). And who could forget those brown jumpsuits, complete with the ghost logo and proton packs? And there’s the Ectomobile and catchy theme song.
Except for Winston (who would join later), these characters start out as university parapsychologists who are fired, and decide to set up their own business: catching and entrapping the paranormal and all things that go bump-in-the-night. And their timing couldn’t be more impeccable, as their business oddly begins to boom, EPA reps get angrily concerned, and residents begin to get possessed by dark forces, including evil minions who are awaiting the coming of a destructive force, which eventually takes the Godzilla-like form of a corporate mascot.
Yes, Ghostbusters is a comedy. And it’s as scary as it is funny. But when we really consider this film’s handling of spirituality (including the fact that many of these characters are occasionally clueless when it comes to supernatural), not to mention outdated sexual innuendos and scenes of smoking, it’s a reminder that there’s no such thing as, “It’s just a movie.”
Ghostbusters 2 (1989)
When it was first released, the makers and stars of Ghostbusters were surprised that their movie was not only popular with their target adult audience (hence that film’s adult humor), but also with kids. This reported demographic shift led to a Saturday morning cartoon (The Real Ghostbusters), as well as a more family-friendly sequel in 1989.
Set five years later, the ever-popular paranormal exterminators have moved on to other lines of work (and non-smoking habits), from psychic talk shows to occult book stores. But when gallons of pink slime start to surface in the Big Apple around New Year’s Eve, Peter Venkman (Billy Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), and Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) get back in business and eventually face off against an evil ancient Viking.
Murray has expressed disappointment over this installment, claiming it was more special-effects driven—a fair statement, considering the gallons of pink slime, kooky specters, and ridiculous or loud humor that populate the screen. The story isn’t as strong or memorable either. And then there are scary scenes of child endangerment, which is another story. But Ghostbusters 2 has its moments (“Come on, there’s always room for jello”), including a clever, updated animated logo. And it still knows how to balance laughs and scares effectively.
Most of all, it’s fun to watch Murray, Aykroyd, Ramis, and Hudson (along with Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts, and Rick Moranis) once again. Talks of a third movie have circulated over the years since, with most of the main cast—and director Ivan Reitman—expressing interest, but reportedly only moving forward if Murray agreed as well. With Moranis’s retirement ten years later and Ramis’s passing in 2014, Ghostbusters 2 would be the last time they all worked together on the same movie.
Ghostbusters a.k.a. Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016)
After years of being in, quote-on-quote, development limbo—and despite an ingenious homage in the 2009 horror-comedy Zombieland—a new Ghostbusters was finally greenlit, and even endorsed by Ivan Reitman and the original cast (including Bill Murray). The 2016 gender-swap reboot attempt (from Bridesmaids director Paul Feig), however, isn’t what people were expecting. As with most franchises, it’s true that nothing will ever top the original. But this version of Ghostbusters got a lot of heat on social media as soon as the first trailer was released. (At the time, it was the most disliked movie preview on YouTube.)
The movie itself, admittedly, is not perfect. It has too many special effects, and its improvised banter doesn’t always land. Plus, its trademark secular and scientific views of spirituality and the afterlife (even as a fantasy) make it out of bounds for more discerning viewers. Ditto some crass dialogue, a few questionable song lyrics, and a scene involving the suicide of a disturbed adversary. (For those reasons, I myself can’t endorse this.) It’s sort of ironic that critics seemed to favor this movie more than audiences—the opposite reaction towards Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman (which is a different story).
I will say that this Ghostbusters otherwise stands on its own, largely thanks to the camaraderie among its four leading ladies: Kristen Wiig’s physicist Erin Gilbert and Melissa McCarthy’s paranormal researcher Abby Yates have funny bits, but it’s Leslie Jones’ MTA officer Patty Tolan and Kate McKinnon’s quirky engineer Jillian Holtzmann who get the biggest laughs. It was also this movie that arguably certified Chris Hemsworth (as clueless receptionist Kevin)’s comedy chops—and that the MCU vet wasn’t afraid to laugh at himself. Original cast members make clever cameo appearances as well (although Murray’s feels like a missed opportunity).
In 2021, director Jason Reitman (son of Ivan) commended Feig for “expanding" the franchise, even if it was divisive. But sometimes, those are the best lessons in moviegoing, especially with tentpoles like this.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
Originally scheduled for a 2020 theatrical release (and with help from a clever teaser trailer in 2019), this continuation of the genre-bending supernatural comedies from the 1980s was pushed back by over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But as people were slowly heading back to the theaters, this new take from indie director Jason Reitman was a surprising pass of the baton to a new generation since Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson first sported jumpsuits and proton packs, and caught various specters around New York City over 35 years before.
In Ghostbusters: Afterlife, a struggling family (single mom Carrie Coon, teenage son Finn Wolfhard, and brainy daughter McKenna Grace) inherits an old farmhouse with a mysterious connection to one of the original members. Excitement and thrills abound within this nostalgic roller-coaster of a movie. It also works as an engrossing coming-of-age story about family dynamics, not to mention a moving dedication to the late Ramis.
Paul Rudd is also terrific as a science teacher, while a new ghost named Muncher (who feeds on metal, and is voiced by Josh Gad) steals the show. The surround sound is booming, while the filmmakers strike a great balance of practical and digital effects (the Ectomobile has a gunner’s seat?!). Ghostbusters: Afterlife only falls short in its last act, where it plays more like fan service than an original concept. And it goes with saying the film has dark spiritual elements (more than the original film did, honestly) and some genuine jump scares.
The more dramatic tone and small town vibe also has as much in common with Stranger Things and Poltergeist as it does with the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (who appears in miniature, macabre form here). Overall, this was one of the best times I had at the movies (exclusively) in recent years. Am I ready to believe the next theatrical installment will have more originality? We’ll see.
No comments:
Post a Comment