Movie Review: Ghostbusters — Frozen Empire

3.5 stars out of 5

I have gone on record more than once declaring that bustin’ makes me feel good. Aided by a generous dose of nostalgia, Ghostbusters: Afterlife even snuck onto my top-10 films of 2022.

And yet, I did not rush to the theater to see this follow-up. Why not? Was some mysterious paranormal force keeping me away? Or was it simply sequel fatigue? Regardless, when I noticed that Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes clocked in at an unreasonable 2 hours, 25 minutes, I opted for the comparatively short 1 hour, 55 minute Frozen Empire.

This bustin’ did indeed make me feel good, just not quite as good. Yes, nearly all the elements from Afterlife are back. Though perhaps most notably, Jason “Son of Ivan” Reitman did not return to the director’s chair. He did once again co-write with Gil Kenan, who takes over as director.

Also, cast-wise, there’s a pretty significant bait-and-switch at play. Advertising led me to believe that, unlike Afterlife, this was a true team-up of the old and new Ghostbusters. Mmm, yes and no. Executive producer Dan Aykroyd is in this a whole lot. Second place, Ernie Hudson. In a distant third, Annie Potts. And bringing up the rear and barely present, Bill Murray. We love you and miss you, Peter Venkman! (The movie does frequently honor the 1984 original, bringing back the EPA inspector who had no dick — he’s now the mayor! — and even the library administrator. And Slimer, and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man….)

From our current Ghostbusting family, Paul Rudd and especially McKenna Grace fare well; she has genuine star potential. Finn Wolfhard and the usually excellent Carrie Coon don’t get too much to do. For younger viewers, the filmmakers desperately try to explain why Oklahoma teens Lucky and Podcast from Afterlife are coincidentally now in New York.

Of new additions, Kumail Nanjiani does some very funny work as an initially unwilling participant in this otherworldly rigamarole. Patton Oswalt is only in one scene, and it’s… ok. Emily Alyn Wood plays a tenement-era ghost who seems way too thoroughly modern.

Plot? Yes, there is one. An evil cold spirit escapes, freezes New York, releases captured ghosts, and Ghostbusters have to save the day. New and old Ghostbusters, working together. Which is not quite “human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria,” but eh, it’s pretty good, it’s funny enough, and you can watch with the family, which sometimes is good enough.