Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

I am going to go against the grain (as is my want) and say I really liked that. I understand why some people didn't. But let this super positive review prove to you once and for all Matt Zimmer isn't actually all that picky. I tell you this over and over again, and you don't believe me. Maybe me legit enjoying a movie y'all were disappointed in is a good demonstration of that.

It's not a perfect movie. I have some issues. But I think the problem for most fans about both this movie and Afterlife is they are comparing them to the original films and finding them lacking. I'm not doing that. Not because I think these films are lower-quality. Not at all. Literally the most memorable line from the first film is "This man has no dick." That comedy wasn't exactly Shakespeare, ya dig?

No, I choose not to compare them because their intentions are different. Ghostbusters was a saucy comedy. This is a family drama. I'm not saying that makes it better, but I DO have different expectations of the film than the purists do. Why?

It seems to me if the Ghostbusters franchise can come up with a new angle 40 years later, that's a good thing. And the hook that blew my mind was Phoebe's genuine friendship with a friendly ghost. Suddenly the saga is not just exploring philosophical questions it never has before, it's exploring ethical ones too.

Believe if it or not, even if I thought these last two film were inferior to the first two (and I don't) I don't think the franchise becoming more ambitious and coming up with new premises to explore after all this time is a failing. Is the tone different? Yes. But I don't mind because it doesn't bother me. Maybe if I thought the first two films WERE cinema classics I'd feel more protective of them and be a proper gatekeeper of the franchise. But again, "This man has no dick," will never be confused for Citizen Kane.

I'm proud Ray quit smoking too, Peter. That always worried me in the original film.

The film managed to get the surviving Ghostbusters back, and it's rewarding to hear Venkman shout out how awesome Janine looks in uniform. But I felt the way they were tied to resolving the climax felt a bit cursory. It was a real dilemma. The fans wanted more of the Ghostbusters, and the filmmakers had to deliver. If it had been up to me, I would have worked harder on making them fit, and their contributions feel organic instead of gimmicky. I mentioned the film isn't perfect. It tried to please fans while telling its own different story. It should have been able to balance both things better. I love the film, but that IS a legit expectation and a genuine failing that they were unable to navigate. I'm not saying it would have been easy. But these movies with the original cast are so rare, they really needed to put in the extra effort.

And I get why the writers cared more about Phoebe and Melody. It's the more interesting story. But if you bring the original Ghostbusters back, you gotta actually bring it. You can't half-ass that specific thing.

I very much like it and if you know someone who didn't, send them my way and I'll tell them why they are wrong. But the thing is, I don't think they'd be ENTIRELY wrong to be displeased with how it ended up. It should have taken the job of blending both casts together more seriously. 4 1/2 stars.

Deleted Scenes

Interesting batch for this film. Overall: 3 1/2 stars.

Headlines

I think this was cut for pacing. It makes the scene a little slow. 2 1/2 stars.

I Am A Doctor

There is neither here nor there, but it Bill Murray, it's great, and it's a shame it was cut.

We sort of get the impression from Venkman himself that he was the useless Ghostbuster. That actually tracks. Also good to note that Peter IS a doctor and has an actual life outside of this. Him being paged during the apocalypse is understandable. 4 1/2 stars.

Ghost-chopper

Interesting, and more Patton Oswalt is good, but it's long, and doesn't fit easily. Nadeem's backstory is kind of cool though.

The one thing I wish they would have been able to keep was Janine making it explicit the Ghostbusters had been unwittingly building up Garraka's army for over 40 years. I feel like that specific thing should have been clearer in the film itself. Even if none of the rest of the scene is needed.

I love Janine's take on New York property. Mostly because it is insane. 3 1/2 stars.

News Report

"Shitloads of weapons" is a funny line, and the reaction to the news report is amusing too. I love Nadeem suggesting maybe there's a second Firemaster. 4 stars.

Rooftop Consolation

On the plus side Trevor IS technically the useless member of the Spengler family, so it's kind of good the kid has some hang-ups about it. The thing is, you probably shouldn't point that out in a 2 hour movie. You can get away with something like that on a long-running TV show. Character development there IS a thing. In a movie, it's narratively counterproductive to itemize your heroes' flaws so clearly to the audience. 2 stars.

Slime Bath

Yeah, this in NO way needed to be extended. Ick. 1 1/2 stars.