By Mark Fields
Spirited If Familiar Comedy Delivers Both Nostalgia and Fan Fun
With a heavy dose of nostalgia for its 1984 (can you believe that was 40 years ago?!) inspiration, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is back with the new cast introduced in AfterLife and extended cameos from much of the original cast. The movie delivers an experience that is both entertaining and satisfying, in large part because it so fondly traffics in the humor and thrills familiar from the first film.
This newest entry in the GB universe fixes one of the mistakes of AfterLife by returning the series to its native New York (AfterLife was set in Oklahoma, go figure). It features the same antagonist as the 1984 film – EPA administrator Walter Peck (William Atherton), who amusingly is now NYC’s mayor. And it even includes a brief return of the very first apparition featured in Ghostbusters, the ghostly librarian at the NY Public Library.
All these sentimental throwbacks could have easily resulted in a movie that was derivative or forced, but everyone involved from the cast to screenwriters and director has such unabashed affection for the shaggy vibe of the original that it all comes together. Gil Kenan, who co-wrote AfterLife, returns to direct this installment. Kenan also co-wrote the screenplay with the late Ivan Reitman (the 1984 creator and director who died in 2022) and his son Jason Reitman.
As if it truly mattered, Frozen Empire regathers the Ghostbuster teams young and old to face their latest supernatural threat, an ancient god who traffics in icy fear. The large cast – second wave Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, and Finn Wolfhard – plus old faithfuls Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts – all feel comfortable in their roles, but the focus has deftly shifted to Egon Spengler’s teenage granddaughter Phoebe, well played by Mckenna Grace. Patton Oswalt and Kumail Nanjiani have also joined the cast. It’s a challenge to give all these characters much screen time, so everyone feels a little underused.
The special effects are engaging, if not a little familiar by this point. But the comedy is spot on. And Ray Parker Jr’s earworm theme song still delights 40 years later. For fans of the original, new or old, once again, there’s something strangely delightful in the neighborhood…and you know who to call.
