Movie Review – Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

I didn’t have high hopes, but this was better than I expected. That isn’t a surprise because Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire was co-written and directed by Jason Reitman—the son of Ivan Reitman who directed the first Ghostbusters. Jason has missed the mark with a few of his movies. What writer/director hasn’t? But he’s hit it out of the park on numerous occasions with movies like Ghostbusters: Afterlife (94%), Tully (74%), Whiplash (94%), Juno (88%), and Thank You For Smoking (87%). (Ratings are all RottenTomato scores from users, not critics. Who cares what critics think?)

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire feels like the kind of movie that had it been in the hands of a less talented writer/director it could have been an embarrassment to the franchise. But Jason has the experience to know when something isn’t good enough and apparently worked on the script until in was adequate for the screen. I wish more writers had that knowledge and would keep polishing their scripts a little more. It seems like half the movies I see needed a few more drafts written on the script to get the rough spots out before it was put into production.

Haunted by Nostalgia

I’ve enjoyed the last two Ghostbuster movies, and I hope they make more. But I wish they would stop leaning into the nostalgia of the first Ghostbusters and their cast and let these new characters grow into something new. The new cast, and the development of their characters, has good potential. I like the core family of Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon as the parents and Finn Wolfhard and especially Mckenna Grace as Phoebe. Mckenna might be the best actor of the entire bunch.

They need to decide if Celeste O’Connor and Logan Kim are going to be characters or not. If they’re going to be in the movies, then they need these characters to develop into memorable characters and give them more to work with. Otherwise, it’s a waste of screen time.

Grade: C+

About The Peetimes: I have three good Peetimes. I think the first one is the best, but if that’s too early for you the others will work pretty well.

There are extra scenes during, or after, the end credits of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

Rated:	(PG-13) Supernatural Action/Violence | Suggestive References | Language
Genres:	Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Starring:	Mckenna Grace, Annie Potts, Carrie Coon
Director:	Gil Kenan
Writer(s):	Gil Kenan, Jason Reitman, Ivan Reitman
< td>Language:	English
Country:	United States

Plot
When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age.