Ghostbusters Movie Review

Reviewed by Lynn Barker on Jul 15, 2016

Rating:

Check out Kidzworld’s movie review of the new Ghostbusters film. Did bringing girlpower to the lead roles work or even matter? Is the movie really funny or at all scary?

By: Lynn Barker

When NYC seems to have an outbreak of ghostly encounters, who ya gonna call? GHOSTBUSTERS! This time it’s a team of smart and funny women whose hot but oh so dim male secretary/receptionist might be possessed!

We ain't afraid of no ghosts!

Old Frenemies

In Ghostbusters we meet Dr. Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) and Dr. Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) who were co-authors of a book supporting the existence of paranormal stuff such as ghosts. The book doesn’t do very well so Erin puts the supernatural behind her and becomes a teacher at Columbia University but Abby still studies paranormal happenings through a tech college with her brilliant but wacko inventor buddy Dr. Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon). It’s years later and Erin is pissed when she learns that the book is again for sale on Amazon.

The new Ghostbusters

Kristen Wiig as Erin

First Investigation

Since the book threatens her reputation and job, Erin confronts Abby who agrees to take it off the market but Erin needs to help her and Jillian investigate a haunting at an old mansion. The ladies see a scary ghost so Erin again believes in them. When a video about the sighting is posted online, all the women, thought to be pathetic frauds, are kicked out of their schools. They set up an investigation office above a Chinese restaurant (they look at but can’t afford the firehouse from the original movie). They hire dim but hunky Kevin (Chris Hemsworth) as their receptionist.

Erin tries to interact with a ghost

Chris Hemsworth as wacky Kevin

The Team is Complete

When MTA transit worker Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones) sees a ghost in a subway, she contacts them and the gang investigates and documents the ghost and they also test Jillian’s cool new proton containment laser which needs more work. Again everyone thinks they are faking these ghost encounters and start calling them “Ghostbusters”. Patty joins them since she knows a ton about New York buildings etc. She provides them with their first “car” a revamped hearse they call “Ecto-1”.

Leslie Jones as Patty

Enter the Baddie

The girls don’t know that Rowan North (Neil Casey), a wacky believer wanting to shatter the barrier between worlds to bring destructive ghosts over to our side has been summoning them with a special device he created. More and more are appearing all over NYC. Can the Ghostbusters discover North’s plot before it’s too late? Can Jillian create the right weapons to defeat him and the hundreds of evil ghosts he is calling to join his party? Will New Yorkers ever believe that ghosts are among them and only these brave women can stop them?

Jillian works on more ghostbusting weaponry

Ghostbusters Movie Trailer

Wrapping Up

The new Ghostbusters is fun! The women make a great comedy team. Sure, some jokes are funnier than others but overall, these female ghost wranglers are a hoot! Especially hilarious is Jillian played by Kate McKinnon of “Saturday Night Live”. Always hot Chris Hemsworth is pretty silly/funny as the dim-witted male secretary the girls hire.

The first ghost

Some ghosts in the film are a bit scary while others are just really clever or funny. For those fans of the original movies, Slimer and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man are back! There are many tributes to the original films throughout. The famous theme song is there in several versions, the logo is the same, the Ghostbusters’ car is similar, even the old firehouse H.Q. comes into play. Watch closely for appearances by all of the major original cast in various small roles except for Harold Ramis who has passed away and Rick Moranis. All are cleverly used.

Slimer is back!

The basic story is similar to that of the original film and, although scientifically wacky, it works. The proton blasters are updated and there are more cool, handheld weapons this time around. The girls use the internet a lot and there are other updates that make the tale more contemporary.

The ghosts gather

There is room to enjoy all of the Ghostbusters incarnations both old and new. This one isn’t perfect but it’s certainly a popcorn-chompin’ good time at the flicks. We had fun so we go 4 stars.