Certification. 12A
Running Time. 1 hour 55 mins
Director. Gil Kenan
Cast. Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace, Logan Kim, Emily Alyn Lind, Kumail Nanjiani, Celeste O'Connor, Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard.
Rating. 30%
Jason Reitman’s surprisingly moving Ghostbusters: Afterlife proved to be an endearing film, resonating warmth and charm as the original characters of Ghostbusters were integrated into the storyline of Ghostbusters: Afterlife. In Ghostbusters: Afterlife, we were introduced to the late Egon Spengler’s daughter, Callie (Carrie Coon), his granddaughter Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and her older brother Trevor (Finn Wolfhard). Paul Rudd completed the refreshed line-up as seismologist and summer school teacher, Gary Grooberson.
But Gil Kenan's follow-up, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, buckles under the weight of its own lineage. An overstuffed plot with too many characters, Kenan struggles to balance the large ensemble cast and a multitude of underdeveloped subplots. No time is dedicated to one character outside of Phoebe, and even then, most of her scenes are undermined by how little she has to do.
While I would argue that the involvement of the original Ghostbusters in Ghostbusters: Afterlife served as a passing of the torch to a new generation, there’s no reason for Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson or Annie Potts to reprise their roles in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. It was touching once, but I can't help but feel Kenan is trying to pull the same trick twice in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
There was infinite potential, but sadly Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, is hollow, banal and rote. A formulaic sequel that is overpopulated and ultimately underwhelming.
Comments
Post a Comment