Before I begin this review, I would like to shout out to the Cinemark Theater in Temple Texas, the staff is doing an incredible job there with their movie promotions, COVID-19 Protocols, and Sanitation policies. With this film premiering this evening, this will be a Spoiler-Free Review, and with that we’ll begin the review.
“Are you troubled by strange noises in the middle of the night? Do you experience feelings of dread in your basement or attic? Have you or your family ever seen a spook, specter, or ghost? If the answer is “Yes” then don’t wait another minute, call the professionals… GHOSTBUSTERS! WE’RE READY TO BELIEVE YOU!“
Taking place Thirty years after the second movie, Ghostbusters: Afterlife begins with where a single mom and her two children are sent moving to Oklahoma due to being evicted from their home into a decaying farmhouse that was owned by their late grandfather, where a series of unexplained earthquakes are occurring where there are no fault and strange things are happening in an old mine which once belonged to the alleged occultist Ivo Shandor.
Taking place Thirty years after the second movie, Ghostbusters: Afterlife begins with where a single mom and her two children are sent moving to Oklahoma due to being evicted from their home into a decaying farmhouse that was owned by their late grandfather, where a series of unexplained earthquakes are occurring where there are no fault and strange things are happening in an old mine which once belonged to the alleged occultist Ivo Shandor.
The kids soon discover a secret that their late grandfather was hiding. They discover that he was one of the Original Ghostbusters and involved in New York’s “Manhattan Crossrip of 1984“. Now, there are even more Supernatural phenomena that begin to occur and threaten not only the world but the kids, along with their family and friends. They must solve the decades-old mystery of the relocation of their grandfather and use the equipment of the Ghostbusters, and become their successors to save it.
In an age of reboots, remakes, and retreads, this by far balances that fine line of pleasing fans of the original series and creating something new and accessible for new fans of the series. Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Phoebe (McKenna Grace) along with their mother, Callie (Carrie Coon) are different from the usual cinematic families see, Coon nails her part as a mother who was defined with the absence of her father while she raises two children, one who is your typical big brother (while shrugging off the role from Stranger Things) and the other that comes off a tad insular but at the end, they are there for each other. Make no mistake this was Grace’s time to shine and Phoebe was a smash hit, there was no attempt at recreating her on-screen grandfather’s mannerisms because Phoebe was her own type of nerd and person. This film was more of a young girl trying to find herself through a surprise connection to her family, Grace needed to carry that weight as well. Reitman and co-writer Gil Kenan crafted a witty, cheeky, and well-paced script that was not only heartfelt but full of delight and fun.
Speaking of a well-knitted cast, I would like to point out the other actors and actresses who starred in this film, Bokeem Woodbine starred as the Local Sheriff and Lucky’s father, Paul Rudd taking on the role of Gary Grooberson, a Local School Teacher who almost feels like a nod to Rick Moranis’s Louis Tully. Another character that made the movie even more memorable was Logan Kim’s character, Podcast. A keen podcaster who quickly befriends Phoebe and proves himself as a new comedic talent. Lucky (Celeste O’Connor) does a great job of dispelling the all-too-familiar older mean girl trope and proves that not only that she is adventurous and quick-witted, but she is also generous and the perfect addition to this new generation of Ghostbusters. From the moment the family enters Summerville, there are Supernatural Shenanigans galore, like the previous two films, there is one paranormal moment to set the stage. The Visual effects are out of this world, it made me curious if there were any puppetry or animatronics involved in certain scenes, in a world of CGI Animation I would give for the classics any day. Ghostbusters: Afterlife is the perfect film for both new and old fans, there is a lot of amazing creature work, action and so much more.
Final Grade:
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