Friday, 19 November 2021

Ghostbusters: Afterlife - The scoop and digest

This is technically the 'second' Ghostbusters 3.

I say this because Dan Aykroyd later said that plot of Ghostbusters: The Video Game (2009) is essentially what abandoned third film would have been.

Anyway, Ivan Reitman's son Jason directs.

Mckenna Grace - Phoebe
Finn Wolfhard - Trevor
Carrie Coon - Callie
Paul Rudd - Gary Grooberson
Logan Kim - Podcast

Summary

32 years after the events of Ghostbusters II, Egon Spengler has relocated to Summerville.  He captures a ghost in the mines owned by Gozer cultist leader Ivo Shandor, but is killed when trap fails.

A week later, Egon's daughter Callie and children Phoebe and Trevor are evicted from their home and forced to start a new life at father's abandoned farm.

Phoebe finds a trap and shows it off to new friend Podcast and school teacher/seismologist Gary Grooberson.  

When device is opened, a ghost flees to Shandor's mine, leading to the resurrection of Gozer and minions Vinz Clortho the Keymaster and Zuul the Gatekeeper.

Mid-credits

At Venkman's apartment, Dana goofs about with memory cards while he's hooked up to ESP machine.

Post-credits

Winston reminisces about the good old days with Janine and while visiting former station house headquarters, a light begins glowing red.

Bustin' didn't feel good

Lacking the charm, innovation and excitement of what made beloved original such a delight, wand weaves negative magic.

Until the introduction of Slimer's successor Muncher, nothing happens in the first hour.

Then comes relentless fan service.

It's TERRIBLE, cringing even.

Characters are grossly underwritten and humour seems to rely on Phoebe telling bad jokes, which obviously aren't funny.

Err okay.

When surviving busters inevitably appear during rehashed third act, Egon's spirit inspires all and sundry to overwhelm Gozer.

Before vanishing, 'dirt farmer' reconciles with Callie.

Oh my fucking God.

Not that sequence made any sense, but at least army of miniature Stay Pufts 'killing' each other in a variety of ways raised a smile.

For Harold.

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