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Ghostbusters (2016)

WAAAYY back in February of 2015, I wrote a little rant about my ‘childhood classics’ (can read it here) and how I am furious that Hollywood seems not to covet anything. I still feel this way even a year and a half later. I think some films should be left alone and should be enjoyed as is. Generations of movie goers need to experience films like Back to the Future or The Goonies the way they already are and not in a new shiny way Hollywood wants to present it. This subject infuriates me even as I am writing this and that anger was sparked in February of 2015 by the news that a new Ghostbusters film was going to be released without the help of Harold Ramis (writer of the original who passed way in February 2014) and Dan Aykroyd (writing partner of Ramis for the original film). I strongly believed then and still believe today that Columbia Pictures should have shelved this project immediately and let the franchise rest in peace along with Ramis himself. Yet here we are, July of 2016, and Columbia Pictures has gone and released a new version of Ghostbusters. Ugh…

The Story: Particle Physicist Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig Bridesmaids) is working hard to secure tenure at Columbia University. Gilbert’s past ventures into the paranormal, however, have come back to put her respectability into question. The past comes back in the form of a book that she co-authored with childhood friend and fellow scientist Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy Spy). Due to the book, the head historian of a rumored haunted mansion in Manhattan, has come seeking Erin and Abby’s help to get rid of a newly risen ghost. The two, along with Nuclear Engineer Dr. Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon Saturday Night Live), investigate the mansion only to be confronted by a ‘class 4 apparition’. This encounter sparks the desire of all three women to continue studying paranormal activity. Soon joined by avid reader and New York born Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones Top Five), the four ladies discover that someone is going around Manhattan conjuring up paranormal activity that may destroy the entire world.

The Good: I went into this film with an open mind. I struggled with this concept due to the deep admiration I have for the 1984 classic, but I achieved open-mindedness. Like much of director Paul Feig’s (Spy) other films, Ghostbusters relies heavily on an awkward type of comedy. The best way I can describe this, is the main characters are put into these awkward situations that are humorous to the audience. This is much of what this film is and I will admit that some it was actually quite funny. The four main characters do an admirable job of separating themselves from the original cast and find their own niche in this “Ghostbusting” world. The film wasn’t as bad as it could have been and seemed to find a way to not overly prove that they were different from the original.

The Bad: The good parts of this version of Ghostbusters are also its downfall. As much as it tries to be different from the original, I believe that these filmmakers try too hard to bring the comedy out of this film and forgot that what made the original a classic was that it didn’t have to try to be funny. The original had the ability to just be naturally funny. This film is too much like Feig’s other films and that is where I truly think he needed to separate himself from. This was a chance for Feig to prove that he belonged among the ranks of Ramis and other iconic comedic writers/directors, but he slips into the same ol’ same ol’ that we have come to expect from him. Now the cast does do an admirable job trying to separate themselves from the original, but they never separate themselves from other characters that they have portrayed already. Wiig seemed like she was brought right out off the set of Bridesmaids and McCarthy almost seems held back. McCarthy is such a wonderful presence on screen, but in Ghostbusters it felt as though she was restraining herself so that she fit with the group and didn’t want to stand out.

The Verdict: I really didn’t think that the film was atrocious, but I do believe that this was the ultimate chance for Paul Feig and his cast to prove to the world that we were wrong and that a new version of Ghostbusters was necessary, but Feig plays it way too safe. The winks at the original film and the cameos of the original cast were nice and nostalgic, but Feig doesn’t do enough to push this film past even Ghostbusters 2. The cast has a lot of promise but Wiig needs to do the same and push herself past characters that we are used to seeing from her.  I will swallow my pride and say that if given another chance, Feig and company could overcome this slump as long as they take chances and give audiences something new. They need heart and substance and this film lacked both.

Wait for Blu-Ray.