Movie Review: Ghostbusters Afterlife

 

Michael's Movie Grade: B+

An excellent sequel and the best Ghostbusters film since the first one. 

This film focuses around a group of kids who when ghosts attack a small town must become Ghostbusters themselves to save the day. Because of this as much as this is a Ghostbusters movie it is also a coming of age story and a darn good one too. The two main kids are characters we truly grow to care about over the course of the film. This is especially true of Phoebe (Mckenna Grace). She is a geeky and very awkward kid, who has a hard time making friends. Yet as we get to know her we get to care about her because underneath her awkward exterior, she is simply a really cool person. She remains the emotional heart beneath all the action and comedy and fulfills this role very well. Yet she also adds a lot to those two elements. Her jokes not only cracked me up but the whole audience in the movie theater and her awkward delivery makes these jokes all the funnier. Her older brother while not that deep is quite likable and provides some pretty funny moments as well. Though this movie is not as packed with jokes as previous installments in the franchise, the humor is often excellent. I especially love the classroom scenes, which provide a clever and really funny satire of public education. The mini-pufts also provide some pretty good slapstick. The action scenes are also quite good. While the climax can go on a bit too long, it is still quite exciting and a visual treat. The story while it offers nothing new is very charming and will certainly delight fans of the franchise. Speaking of delighting fans of the franchise, the original Ghostbusters do appear in this movie even if briefly. Not only did this get applause from the audience I saw this film with, but these characters are very well handled and the actors have not lost a bit of their great comic delivery. 

Unfortunately both of the romances in this movie are quite bland and boring, as well as never given the time to be truly developed. There are also a few scenes that feel like they are simply exposition. 

This is a movie that is sure to delight Ghostbusters fans of all ages. 

Note: This film was directed by Jason Reitman, who was not only the director of such movies as Juno and Tully but is also the son of Ivan Reitman who directed the original Ghostbusters film.