A no-Gozer: New ‘Ghostbusters’ sequel a frosty ghost of its 1984 original
“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” — 2 stars
The stark difference between “Ghostbusters” and its new sequel, subtitled “Frozen Empire,” becomes apparent by comparing two key scenes.
In the 1984 original feature, paranormal researcher Dr. Venkman (Bill Murray) torments a student during a psychic experiment by electrically shocking the poor lad every time he makes a mistake. Then, even when he gets something right.
This establishes Venkman’s hilariously cruel, sadistic edge that lurks behind his character’s quirky reactions and off-kilter comments.
“Frozen Empire” replicates this scene, now with an elderly Venkman tormenting a confused fellow named Nadeem (Kumail Nanjiani) during an interview by throwing ballpoint pens in his face.
Pens? In his face?
This establishes what? How petty and desperate for laughs Venkman has become? The bit comes off as lame and humorlessly mean.
None of the “Ghostbuster” sequels matches the wit, breezy fun and fresh imagination of the inspired original, co-written by Chicago’s Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd, and directed by Ivan Reitman.
Not 1989’s “Ghostbusters II” with the original cast returning.
Not 2016’s “Ghostbusters,” a daring but fizzled reboot with all female leads.
Not 2021’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” starring a younger cast in another reboot, botched at the start when a demon brutally murders Egon Spengler (the late Ramis), thereby destroying the lighthearted whimsy and relative innocence that made the original so endearing.
“Frozen Empire,” co-written by director Gil “Afterlife” Kenan and Jason “Juno” Reitman, operates on a common misconception that a sequel must include more of everything.
More chases! More visual effects! More characters! More subplots! More squishable Stay Puft Marshmallow mini-men!
“Afterlife” introduced Spengler’s family: daughter Callie (Carrie Coon) and her teen kids Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace, the movie’s coolest and most charismatic casting asset).
Callie’s dull romantic interest Gary (Paul Rudd), plus Ghostbuster intern Lucky (Celeste O’Connor) and young Podcast (Logan Kim) joined the Spenglers to again save the world.
The “Frozen Empire” plot pivots on a frosty evil entity called Garraka that threatens to transform New York City into a “Day After Tomorrow” scenario, encasing the Big Apple in a modern ice age, and presumably killing millions of registered voters.
The demonic force must first escape from the ancient orb where it has been imprisoned for centuries.
Meanwhile, the arthritic psychic storage facility in the Ghostbusters’ fire station headquarters is about to burst from all those nasty spirits being crammed into it since 1984.
Nostalgic references play a big role in this comedy, but they prove to be double-edged narrative swords, generating great fan-base gratification at the same time as being some of the easiest and least creative narrative devices in movies.
The green blob Slimer returns, along with the Library Ghost glimpsed at the start of the 1984 film. William Atherton’s bureaucratic villain Walter Peck, now mayor, continues his crusade to destroy the Ghostbusters.
Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) and Janine (Annie Potts) support the Paranormal Research Center and jobless Ray Stantz (Aykroyd) while new characters clamor for our attention, including a scientist named Lars (British comedian James Acaster, suggesting a young Michael Caine), paranormal librarian Hubert Wartzki (Patton Oswalt), plus spectral entities Sewer Dragon, Possessor Ghost, Pukey and fatal fire victim Melody (“Gossip Girl” actress Emily Alyn Lind), who could pass for the Human Torch’s blue girlfriend.
Oddly, VIP Ghostbuster Murray enters the story late and doesn’t have much to do. If his character Venkman were to be removed from this movie, nothing would change. He has no direct impact on the plot.
“We’re gonna need a bigger trap!” Venkman says, repurposing a famous line from “Jaws,” visually referenced by people panicking on a beach as they become aware of impending danger.
Moviemakers might consider rethinking references to other films that are so much better than theirs.
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Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Patton Oswalt, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson
Directed by: Gil Kenan
Other: A Columbia Pictures release. Rated PG-13 for language, violence. 115 minutes