What’s It About
In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family decide to leave Summerville, Oklahoma and go back to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – and help the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level! But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes a mysterious and evil force, known as the Death Chill, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a deadly and unpredictable fate that unknowingly, could affect earth’s history with a second Ice Age.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
So, 2021 gave us “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” which, honestly, was kinda drowning in its own drama. Why did they bring back Gozer and then try to tug at our heartstrings with the whole Harold Ramis tribute? Fast forward to this sequel, and it’s like someone hit the refresh button. Suddenly, it’s all about the laughs again, which, let’s be real, is why we all geeked out over the OG “Ghostbusters” in the first place. But it’s not just the comedy that’s got the sequel popping. Jason Reitman passed the directing torch to Gil Kenan, and he totally knocked it out of the park, giving us something that feels fresh yet nostalgic, especially if you’ve got a soft spot for that animated “Real Ghostbusters” vibe from back in the day. The crew this time, including the Spenglers and their teach-turned-ghostbuster Paul Rudd (because who doesn’t love Paul Rudd?), feels way more legit and less like they’re just rehashing old glory. Sure, there are a couple of hiccups along the way. Like, they had Patton Oswalt dropping in to spoon-feed us some plot points, which does slow things down, but in hindsight, that bit of exposition would have been done by Harold Ramis’ character had he been around to do so. And William Atherton’s comeback as Mayor Peck didn’t hit as hard as it could’ve. Plus, the kids from “Afterlife” felt more like they were there for the nostalgia factor than actually being crucial to the story, except for Phoebe. She’s 15 now and right in the middle of that weird teen limbo where you’re not a kid but not quite an adult. She’s trying to navigate this while also being a mini Ghostbuster, which is a whole vibe. Then there’s this new character played by Emily Alyn Lind. Together with Phoebe, their dynamic is pretty much the heart of the movie. They’ve got this relatable friendship thing that carries the emotional weight of the whole sequel. The OG Ghostbusters squad gets some solid screen time, too. Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson have this deep conversation that hits differently, and Bill Murray, even in a cameo, delivers his classic one-liners he’s known for. Lastly, the newest character, Kumail Nanjiani, brought in some fresh humor that seriously had the theater rolling. So, bottom line. “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” is all about balancing the scary with the funny, making sure the spirit (pun intended) of the original stays alive. Sure, it’s got its flaws, but it’s a blast for both old fans and the new generation. It proves that calling up these ghostbusting legends is still the move decades later. And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to see a sewer dragon getting busted in NYC? It has that mix of wild ghost chases and callbacks that just feels right. Plus, seeing the Spengler family and the squad tackling a new big bad while keeping the laughs coming. That’s the kind of energy we need.
OUR RATING – A SLIMER 7