GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE

US, 2024, 115 minutes, Colour.

Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Celeste O'Connor, Logan Kim, Emily Alyn Lind, James Lancaster, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, William Atherton, John Rothman.

Directed by Gil Kenan.

It’s 40 years since audiences first enjoyed the first Ghostbusters film, funny, touch of the frightening, ghosts in New York City, and the happy characters of the Ghostbusters themselves.

There was a sequel five years later. Then, in 2016, a female version of the same story, with Chris Hemsworth very funny as the token male secretary, but, at the time, many audiences considered this a desecration! So, five years later, an attempt to revive the franchise with Ghostbusters in the next generation. Moderate success. Now, something of a risk in making this film in the series. Jason Reitman, the son of the original director, Ivan Reitman, worked with Gil Kenan, who wrote the previous film, worked hard on being inventive this time round.

Some delight for the fans of the original film, Dan a Croydon having a central role here, his character in retirement but ready to fight again; then Bill Murray turning up, interviewing a suspect but finally joining in; Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts (although the other Ghostbusters, Harold Ramis, died in 2014).

Some delight for those who enjoyed the 2021 film, the same family of Ghostbusters reappears here as well. They are very much the younger generation, Finn Wolfhard ,as Trevor, age 18, Mckenna Grace is the very precocious, Phoebe, age 15, along with their stepfather, Paul Rudd, the mother, Carrie Coon, and several of the young characters who resume their roles.

Something for everyone. And, judging by the initial box office returns and success, mostly everyone has been very pleased.

We join an initial chase through New York City and the pursuit of the ghost. But, something of a change of tone when a man, Nadeem, comes in to sell his grandmother’s goods, in Dan Aykroyd’s store, amongst the goods a mysterious ball covered in ancient hieroglyphics, taken to the antiquities expert, Patton Oswalt, and whole yarn about a power struggle four thousand years ago and the power contained in this strange ball.

Lots of complications from then on. The Indian man, comedian Kumail Nanjiani discovers he has powers to transfer flame by moving his fingers – which will come in handy for the final confrontation! But, is a lonely ghost who betrays Phoebe, her friend, who unleashes the monster – and a new ice age all over New York City.

So, the old Brigade, the new brigade, kinds of sinister folklore from the past, confrontations of power, a lot of family problems in between, but then the final showdown.

Which means that this is popular entertainment at its most popular.

1. The Ghostbusters franchise? 40 years? The 2020s generation?
2. Audiences remembering the original film, cherishing it, the characters, the issues, ghostbusting? Younger audiences and the 2020s, the next generation? The very young Ghostbusters? This film and the reintroduction of the old characters, enhancing the action, the enjoyment?
3. The New York setting, the old fire station, the headquarters of the Ghostbusters? The musical score and the use of the familiar popular song?
4. Gary and the family, the ghost in the sky, the reckless driving through New York, confronting the ghost? Trapping the ghost in the cellar, the machine and the red light, green light? The final crash? The reaction of the mayor and his continual condemnations?
5. The family, Gary, teacher, ghost busting, Ali, the marriage, her children, Trevor and his abilities, age, driving? Phoebe, precocious, 15, science skills, weapons, ghost busting? The mayor forbidding her to work?
6. Tensions within the family, the children’s ages, their expertise, wanting to Ghostbusters, relationship with their mother, tensions with Gary? Working together, final resolutions?
7. The comedy with Dan Ackroyd, memories of the other films, his shop, retirement, Pod cast on his assistance? Nadeem, arrival, settling his grandmother’s goods, shrewd and the bargaining? The global object, Ray fascinated, consulting his antiquities friend, the long explanation of the mythology, the monster, the hieroglyphics?
8. Ray, Podcast, his age, assisting? Lucky, from the previous film? Lars, arm in sling, his expertise?
9. The ghost, companionship with Phoebe, calm, tricking her, Phoebe and her demonstration, going into the cell, the transition, becoming a ghost, the two minutes? The loosening of the sinister ball, the creature coming out, its horns, resurrecting? And the resurrecting of all the ghosts?
10. Mayhem in New York, the ice age, the crystals, the spikes, people frozen, vehicles, the destruction of the city?
11. The team reassembling, Ray, Bill Murray and his character, his interview with Nadeem, Winston, his retirement, coming into action, Janine and her return? Teaming up with the younger generation? The weapons, the attack, the ammunition being frozen?
12. Nadeem, the touch of the conman, his grandmother, the discovery of who he was, his power with his finger, the fire? His ultimate contribution, the fire?
13. Everybody frozen, the ghost, the cigarette lighter, her throwing it to Phoebe, Nadeem and his powers, the conflagration, the destruction of the ghosts?
14. The mayor, the public, his being shamed into praising the Ghostbusters? The old brigade their happy retirement? The new family, the domestic problems throughout, Gary a stepfather, Phoebe and her reactions, calling Gary dead? The happy reunion?
15. In the presence of the marshmallow ghost throughout, mischief, and the final joke during the credits?