About the film (courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment):
When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.
Who you gonna call…to make a solid sequel? Following in the footsteps of his father, acclaimed director Ivan Reitman, Jason Reitman, who has helmed more than a few sensational titles of his own (Thank You for Smoking (2005), Juno (2007), Up in the Air (2009), Young Adult (2011), Whiplash (2014), Tully (2018)), has circled back to take the reins of a franchise that’s dying to find a new audience. Ghostbusters: Afterlife looks to go back to basics while ushering in an entire new fanbase while cleverly paying homage to those that made ghostbusting such a blockbuster.
There is no doubt that Jason Reitman would be the RIGHT MAN to get the most out of this new story. Ghostbusters: Afterlife stays true to vibe of the original which brings familiar laughs, mischievous supernatural entities and an interesting story in the process. Starring in this sequel are Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon and none other than People’s 2021 Sexiest Man Alive, Paul Rudd. This cast, along with a few others, breathes fresh life into a franchise that had audiences divided with the Paul Feig 2016 reboot of the Ghostbusters franchise. There’s a reason that that the 1984 original was the top grossing film in the US that year, while the reboot didn’t exactly set the box office on fire.
The actors, young and older, have good chemistry in this latest feature with Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard leading the charge. Logan Kim and Celeste O’Connor assist in rounding out the younger cast. Carrie Coon and Paul Rudd bring their experience to assist in bringing a more polished side to things while also meshing very well with the youths. You can’t help but feel that similarity to Netflix’s Stranger Things and that’s not just because one of its stars of the hit series, Finn Wolfhard, happens to featured in this film as well.
I’d describe Ghostbusters: Afterlife as a charming nod to its predecessor while also being able to stand on its own laurels. Make no mistake though, this sequel has many tie-ins to the original, including some of its ghosts that makes it feel like a fun stroll down memory lane. I was a bit put off when I learned that the runtime is just north of two hours. That being said, the story doesn’t bog down or feel stagnant to the point where you’re checking your watch constantly. This does give me an opportunity to mention that you’ll want to stay through the credits in order to take everything in.
All in all, Ghostbusters: Afterlife should find some success during the Thanksgiving box office run. This is the type of film that should appeal to audiences of all ages whether you’ve seen the original or not. Obviously going into this one “informed” is the better way to go, however, it does stand on its own and enjoyment can definitely be had. Paul Rudd not only has a youthful face, the man seems to have a youthful soul that shines when he’s put in the advantageous situations. Fans of the franchise won’t be disappointed by the entertainment you receive and newcomers will be drawn to want to go back and see how it all started. In theaters only Friday, November 19th with early showings Thursday evening.
