DIRECTOR: Jason Reitman
PRODUCER: Ivan Reitman
WRITERS: Jason Reitman & Gil Kenan
PERFORMERS: Carrie Coon Finn Wolfhard McKenna Grace Kim Logan Celeste O'Connor
with Bokeem Woodbine and Paul Rudd
Special Appearances by Bill Murray Dan Aykroyd Ernie Hudson Annie Potts
and Sigourney Weaver
The Ghostbusters has been a huge part of pop culture for as long as I can remember. The jumpsuits, the proton packs, the trap and most importantly: that catchy theme song we all know and love! After 37 years since the original first film came out and despite the many setbacks and delays between last year and the year before (due to the COVID-19 crisis), the wait for the next entry is at long last over. The result is an improvement over the last dreaded entry from 2016 and the REAL third chapter we've all been waiting for... in Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
It's been argued and said that unless certain members can commit, a third Ghostbusters film was very unlikely to happen. Almost all but one key player was up for it, causing several delays and nothing just seemed to work. It seemed like we would never get a third chapter... until now. Set three decades after the original two films and completely ignoring the last one, Afterlife takes place in the summertime in a small town of Oklahoma and out of New York City. What follows is a series of events that were thought to have been long forgotten, only to resurface with a vengeance. The young main leads really carry this picture, giving it that Spielberg/Amblin feel to it. The heart of the film however is Mckenna Grace who plays the brainiac of the new aspiring group. She speaks her mind and works at something like there's no tomorrow to finish it. Even when these kids are faced with adversity and danger, they rise to the occasion without hesitation. While her brother (FINN WOLFHARD of "Stranger Things") is out looking for a good time because he's bored, Grace's character links with another gadget-like kid (LOGAN KIM) who seemingly shares the same passions as her but on a different scale: he's a podcaster. Grace and Wolfhard's mother (CARRIE COON) however, is perhaps the one who goes through the most change as she goes from 'I hate this life' to 'Wow! This is unbelievable!' As the film goes on, these guys discover something bigger than themselves: A legacy. Paul Rudd also shines here as a schoolteacher; this is perhaps the next great thing I've seen him in since his role as Ant-Man in the MCU.
I remember an old cartoon show that was in tune with the Ghostbusters universe and it told the premise of young kids taking on the mantle daily. The show was called Extreme Ghostbusters and that was new to me at the time, but it grew on me episode after episode. This one was proof that anyone, young or old, can be a Ghostbuster. And even though the younglings didn't have one of the older guys to guide them like in the aforementioned cartoon, they proved they had the guts. Sometimes a legacy can be bigger than anything we know, it's the passing of a torch from one generation to the next while continuing an old tradition. This film definitely does for a true third entry what 'Extreme' did for animation. Director Jason Reitman, producer Ivan's son (and the original director of the 1980's films), really shines here as he answers the call in upholding the legacy his father began a long time ago. He delivers what I like to call the next Ghostbusters in the style of Extreme to a satisfying degree of likeness and great reward.
Here, the streams between nostalgia and new entries are crossed resulting in this surprisingly powerhouse chapter. This does more for fan service than audience service so of course there's going to be a lot of different takes here. My take however is it was everything I was hoping for and just what we needed. With the performances by the youngsters and the appearances of the originals, this also serves as a proper send-off to the one missing member (who also in reality is sadly no longer with us). When Harold Ramis died in 2014, I remember seeing posts on social media of his character in ghost form going away to the afterlife while his comrades watched with sadness. They were very artistic and so meaningful, you wanted to cry. I even cried my eyes off at the end of the film when the send-off took place (never thought that would ever happen). So really, the title truly fits here, if you think about it this was named "Afterlife" for a reason: to pay tribute to that one member who meant something to you while preparing you for something big.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife proved that there is life after the old days. After so many years of looking and waiting, the timing could not have been better. I was especially overjoyed to see the original cast back for one more bust. Everyone from in front and behind the camera must have had the time of their lives filming this because I had that same experience with this one! This was the first Ghostbuster film I had seen on the big screen and it was absolutely amazing to experience that. I was only a baby when the first film came out in '84, now I can say 'I saw a Ghostbusters movie in the theater and it was awesome!' I have a feeling this will stay with me forever. How can it not? Worth the wait, worth the effort and certainly worth the timing! All in all, the Reitmans call to a new era while respecting the older one. They didn't disappoint and they don't let down. Some more than other may find it unsatisfying but I'm happy with the way this one turned out. Whether it's a fitting closure to the series or even a continuation of it, only time will tell if we will get another one in the near future. Until then, I'll know who to call when the time is right once again. Highly recommended for the super-fans out there and optional for those just looking for a good movie to see. Go see it while it's still out, you may be surprised (but have your tissues ready at the end).
MY RATING: 5 out of 5
Once a Ghostbuster, Always a Ghostbuster...
In Loving Memory of
HAROLD RAMIS (1944-2014)