Ghostbusters: Afterlife Review

The Ghostbusters have returned for a double passing of the torch with Jason Reitman, son of the original film’s director getting to helm the 2021 film, and a new set of characters becoming Ghostbusters.

Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon) is a struggling single mother who gets evicted from her apartment. Her only option is to move to her estranged father’s farmhouse in Summerville, Oklahoma that he left her. In the small town, Callie’s daughter, Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) slowly discovers her grandfather’s past, finds his Ghostbusters equipment, and the real reason why Egon Spengler moved to the American heartland.

In 2016 Sony attempted to reboot the Ghostbusters franchise with an all-female cast. It was a financial flop and it met with an online backlash. It was a film that became the centre of a culture war because there was a vocal backlash against the film, whilst people with legitimate criticisms were painted with the same brush as the misogynistic critics. One of the biggest criticisms from fans of the 2016 film was it dishonoured the original films and Sony paid attention because this new film acted as a continuation of the original series. Sony’s actions were the cinematic equivalent of uninstalling an unwanted computer programme.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife was a film that wanted to be seen as an apology for Ghostbusters (2016). It ignored the events of the 2016 film, it was tonally different and treated the original with absolute reverence. Sony got Jason Reitman to direct Ghostbusters: Afterlife by producing The Front Runner first. Fans of the ‘80s films and the spin-off cartoons will appreciate Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife was notably different from the rest of the franchise. It was tonally more serious, and the film centred itself on a familial theme. Jason Reitman is a different director from his father. Ivan Reitman was known making mainstream comedies, Jason Reitman became known for making indie films like Juno and Up in the Air. Jason Reitman has even been nominated for awards. Jason Reitman seemed like he was influenced by Steven Spielberg more than his father when making his Ghostbusters film.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife bared more similarities to films like E.T., Poltergeist, and Super 8 than the previous Ghostbusters films. Ghostbusters: Afterlife shared the small-town setting and familial issues going on at the same otherworldly goings-on. It was a film about a group of young characters investigating the paranormal as well as dealing with issues like fitting in, discovering their family heritage, and adjusting to a sudden change. Comparisons with Super 8 are particularly apt because Ghostbusters: Afterlife felt like it was directed by J. J. Abrams.

A sequence that felt like it was lifted from the ’80s was when the Sugar Puff Marshmallows were causing havoc in Walmart. It felt like a scene influenced by Gremlins.

When the trailers for Ghostbusters: Afterlife some people had compared it to Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Both films were revivals of dormant franchises, and the events of the previous films were treated with near-mystical status. Both films saw a new generation of characters becoming heroes. This idea of a new generation taking on the role of the Ghostbusters was similar to the cartoon Extreme Ghostbusters which showed a group of university students becoming Ghostbusters and being led by Egon.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife has been criticised for nostalgia bait. The film does treat the events of 1984 with reverence, it acted as a follow-up to the plot of the 1984 film, and there are lots of references to the franchise’s past. However, Ghostbusters: Afterlife’s nostalgia bait was nowhere near as bad as films like Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Ghostbusters: Afterlife wanted to be a continuation, not a rehash and there was a more whimsical tone compared to the original’s constant comedy.

Mckenna Grace’s Phoebe was the main character. She was an outcast because of her scientific brilliance who finds a sense of belonging in Summerville. She makes the discoveries in the film and she finds her a kindred spirit with her grandfather. Grace did look a lot like Harold Ramis because of the hairstyle and glasses. Grace’s Phoebe did have a tomboy look. Due to Phoebe’s genius and social awkwardness, she did seem like female Sheldon Cooper: fitting because Grace had a recurring role in Young Sheldon. Grace was a great talent.

Finn Wolfhard is also a young emerging talent. He played a stroppy typical teenager who wanted to befriend and impress Lucky (Celeste O’Connor). He was obnoxious and annoying at first, but he was shown to be a skilled mechanic and he did care for his younger sister like many young siblings do. Logan Kim’s Podcast could and should have been an incredibly annoying character because he was a 12-year-old conspiracy theorist podcaster: but he managed to be endearing because of his friendship with Phoebe and he offered local knowledge. Lucky was the character who was given the shaft because she was meant to be the fourth member of the new Ghostbusters but she didn’t have much to do in the film.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife was the best Ghostbusters film since the original. It was more heartfelt, offering more than the other sequels and the reboot. The filmmakers were able to be nostalgic and feel fresh.