Ghostbusters Frozen Empire (2024)

Review: written Apr 2024

Decent sequel relying a bit too much on nostalgia

Sequels. Getting past the “Why do it” question for a moment, you have to admire those that manage to walk the tightrope between bringing something fresh, while bringing enough from before to satisfy those that loved those forerunners. Ghostbusters Frozen Empire has a pretty decent stab at bringing something fresh, while ladling on the throwbacks and squeezing in plot strands for the now geriatric original castmembers.

This is the point in the review where I would summarise the gist of the plot without giving too much away, and then delve into my thoughts on how well they did – but to be honest, there are so many plot strands and cast members to keep track of, that’s no small challenge – which tells me they’ve thrown way too much at the script in the hope that some of it sticks. Fortunately, a lot of it does, and I had an enjoyable time. There’s the new family of Spenglers introduced in “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”, with Paul Rudd amiably leading both the family and the comedic tone. Then there’s some stepfather / stepdaughter relationship issues to negotiate, and then there’s some teenage frustrations being worked out, there’s a friendly (?) ghost in the beguiling form of Emily Alyn Lind, theres a new laboratory run by Ernie Hudson’s character and there’s a brass McGuffin holding an evil entity which seeks to open the gates between worlds, and there’s a firewalker.. well, you get the idea – a lot going on.

The heart of the movie is McKenna Grace, who really impresses as the 15 year old wiser than her years suggest – and yet still a teenager who makes teenagers mistakes.. her talks with her new acquaintance Melody are well handled, and a highlight.

The blend of young-teen friendly scares and some ghost chasing adventure, with a soupçon of Paul Rudd-shaped humour is just about right. There are some satisfying nods to the original (this is the 4oth anniversary year) and the plot lumbers through the usual saving the city from a flood of ghosts schtick, with the “twist” being that the bad guy brings the cold weather along with the usual malice and revenge. In truth, even if somewhat predictable, it’s at least as much fun as it needs to be, and the city and frost make for a satisfying shift in aesthetic from the previous outing. Newcomers to the franchise Kumail Nanjiani and James Acaster fit the tone well but are shortchanged for screen time, which brings me to where, sadly, it doesn’t work (for me at least) – and that is where the original cast have been shoehorned in. Though some have tenuous plot strands carved out for them, Bill Murray in particular seems to simply be required to turn up and gurn for the camera. Bill Murray can and should be doing better more original stuff, and let Ghostbusters forge its own path.

Look, I love the original castmembers, and I’m a sucker for 80’s nostalgia-porn. However I can’t help but reflect that if they really do want to keep churning out more of these, then they’d do better to cut the ties from the past, let Bill Murray et al retire from the Ghostbusters franchise gracefully, and allow the new generation carry the torch. On the basis of this outing they are well able. That said, there’s a lot of negative reviews out there that I thought were unfair. Trim the fat, and there’s an enjoyably spirited family movie in here.