GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE (2024)

Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy
Director: Gil Kenan
Cast: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Celeste O’Connor, Logan Kim, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, William Atherton
Runtime: 1 hr 55 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Frightening Scenes)
Released By: Sony Pictures
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 10 April 2024

Synopsis: In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family returns to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with 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 an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.

Movie Review:

When Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) screamed “Just do it!” in the finale, I can’t wait to join him in exclaiming come on just do it, just get on with it!

This follow-up to the 2021 Ghostbusters: Afterlife is quite a drag to be frank. The story has it that it has been two years since the Oklahoma happenings and the Spengler family is now based in the legendary firehouse in NYC and battling ghosts and ghouls on the busy streets of Manhattan.

While we await for the main antagonist to appear, Phoebe (McKenna Grace) the child prodigy scientist encounters a female teenage ghost, Melody (Emily Alyn Lind) in a park signifying some PG13 queer representation.Then there is Gary (Paul Rudd) and Callie (Carrie Coon) reprising their previous roles as a couple who has no time for romance except dealing with their stubborn, emo teenager Phoebe. Callie’s son Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) for whatever reason spends a lot of time trying to catch Slimer.

The rest of the oldies ghostbusters members, Winston (Ernie Hudson) and secretary Janine (Annie Potts) returns yet again on autopilot together with the cutesy tiny Marshmallow men which adds nothing to the plot. Meanwhile, a small-time hustler, Nadeem (Kumail Nanjiani) sells a strange-looking orb to Ray (Dan Aykroyd) only to find out it contains a demonic god who sought to conquer the world by freezing things up.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire for the record is directed by Gil Kenan and co-written by him and Jason Reitman (son of original helmer, Ivan). The entire story once again relies a lot on nostalgia, making the movie hard to root for. Obviously the filmmakers are undecided on which direction the Ghostbusters franchise should go next. Should they go with the new Spengler family headed by Phoebe and her stepdad Gary or pulling in the original Ghostbusters members for some legacy fun?

Unfortunately, the always likeable Paul Rudd is again shortchanged in a role that could have enjoyed a longer screen presence as McKenna Grace’s Phoebe is more of a boring, grouchy teenager than a likeable charming leading character. The other younger cast members including a returning Lucky (Celeste O’Connor) and Podcast (Logan Kim) is mostly relegated to some forgettable background action. Not forgetting a cameo by Patton Oswalt who spends his screen time on a prolonged (yawn) exposition as a paranormal expert.

The most offensive part is the entire movie lacks a satisfying, memorable sequence despite the trailers touting a massive freezing over in NYC. To be honest, The Day After Tomorrow did a better job than this. The supposed undercooked demon appears for a brief period in the finale unleashing an experience that is never frightening, exciting nor visually enriching. Everything seems to fall flat despite the number of ghostbusters (old and new) appearing at the end.

Disappointingly, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire tries to continue the Harold Ramis and Ivan Reitman’s spirit without much success. It’s a tested and proven workable formula for Afterlife but that doesn’t mean audiences need to pay a pricey ticket for yet another repetitive tedious movie.

Movie Rating:

(Nowhere near special enough to warrant another ghost-busting outing)

Review by Linus Tee