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Movie Review: 'Ghostbusters'

By Bill Wine
KYW Newsradio 1060

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- What a silly controversy.

When it was announced that there would be a gender-bent version of the supernatural comedy, Ghostbusters, purist fanboys immediately downshifted into their knee-jerk how-dare-you gear on social media, as if worried that childhood memories were being obliterated.

That the 1986 original was both watchable and lovable – not so much the 1989 sequel – was never in dispute.

And plans for a third outing with the original cast – as male-dominated as the new one is female-dominated – was scrapped when co-writer and co-star Harold Ramis passed away.

But the intended reboot was suddenly being treated as a sacrosanct work of art or a national monument, rather than the supremely silly and thoroughly enjoyable popcorn flick that it was.

How could anyone disrespect it to such a degree or to be so crass as to consider doing a femme-centric remake?

How indeed.

And now, thirty years later, it arrives, a reimagined Ghostbusters for a new generation. And in one scene it even good-naturedly references the controversy.

2
(2 stars out of 4)

 

So far, the sky has not fallen, but the irony that has presented itself is that the fears triggered by the off-putting trailer that's been playing on theatrical and television screens have come to seem justified.

Not just because the reboot exists, but because the makers have apparently misinterpreted the reasons that the original engagingly offbeat Ghostbusters so ingratiated itself with moviegoers and so effortlessly but firmly insinuated itself onto the pop-culture landscape.

As the song says, "who you gonna call?"

It turns out that the movie, like the trailer, so emphasizes, depends on, and seems so proud of, its special effects, you'd think that it was the special-effects pyrotechnics that was the film's spine or charm or reason to exist.

Well, it wasn't, not by a long shot. This was, after all, a COMEDY. Rather, it was the wry wit, the bouncy playfulness, and the scruffy charm of Bill Murray that made the darn thing so irresistible.

And the Oscar-nominated song didn't hurt, either.

Not so the reincarnation, despite its own impressive brand of star power that Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, and the rest of the cast bring to the party.

Director Paul Feig, in his fourth collaboration with McCarthy (Bridesmaids, The Heat, Spy) co-wrote the limited script with Katie Dippold. But, as a director, he flattens out the comedy stylings we've come to appreciate from McCarthy and Wiig.

They play Abby Yates and Erin Gilbert, respectively, scientists who wrote a book demonstrating that ghosts are real when they were in college, but have since lost touch.

Abby stands by their paranormal theories and findings, while Erin, ever the academic, dismisses them in the name of advancing her career at Columbia University.

Then, as if on cue, poltergeists invade New York City, and Abby and Erin join forces with two colleagues: nuclear engineer Jillian Holtzmann, played by Saturday Night Live's Kate McKinnon, who designs their wash-and-wear weapons, and Patty Tolan, played by Leslie Jones -- also of SNL – a transit worker whose expertise is New York City's nooks and crannies.

Oh, and let's not forget Chris Hemsworth, of all people, who signs on as Kevin, their himbo receptionist/secretary.

Now who you gonna call?

Whereas the original film engaged us by being anchored in the modified real world, the remake remains loud and cartoonish and, despite the quartet of usually-funny women on hand, is nowhere near as impressive and effective as the movie that it keeps referencing and winking at and honoring to a distracting fault, making it more of a rehash than a reworking.

Bottom line: Let's scare up 2 stars out of 4. Is the new Ghostbusters amusing? Fitfully. As funny as its predecessor? Not by a long shot. Does it deserve to exist? Sure. But who you gonna call on?

The original.

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