If there was one thing that the poorly-recieved reboot of Ghostbusters in 2016 proved, it's that we love and cherish our nostalgia and we prefer it familiar and easily recognizable. There is a reason musical acts like The Rolling Stones continue to pack arenas despite them all being well into their 70's - the fans don't show up to hear the new songs, but rather those 'oldies-but-goodies' that bring back pleasant memories.
Writer-director Jason Reitman and co-writer Gil Kenan fully understand this psychology as they deliver what amounts to a sequel of the original Ghostbuster movie released 37 years ago (and directed by Reitman's father Ivan). Reitman is a two-time Oscar nominee for "UP IN THE AIR" (2009) and "JUNO" (2007), but it seems clear his mission here was to provide a fitting tribute to the original film, his father, and the late Harold Ramis.
The hook in this updated version is that Callie (Carrie Coon), the adult daughter of original Ghostbuster Egon Spengler (originally portrayed by the late Harold Ramis), has been evicted from her apartment. She packs up the car and her two kids, and heads to the dilapidated farm house she inherited from the father she never knew. Callie has lived her life bitter and hurt that her father never reached out, choosing instead to isolate himself in Summerville in the "middle of nowhere".
Her kids are Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), an awkward teenager, and Phoebe (McKenna Grace), a science whiz who seems to be a near-clone of the grandfather she never met. As they adjust to a new life, Trevor swoons over local girl Lucky (Celeste O'Connor), Phoebe befriends Podcast (Logan Kim), and Callie gets closer to Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd), a Seismologist "teaching" at a summer school with help from some age-inappropriate movies on VHS.
The original blockbuster spawned sequels, re-boots, toys, animated series, video games, documentaries, and now another sequel. Many of the elements will seem familiar as the kids begin to uncover the ghostly creatures unlocked thanks to Egon's research and tools.
As with the original, busting ghosts is fun, but it's the one-liners and crackling dialogue that make this a joyous ride from beginning to end. A battered but unbowed Ectomobile (Ecto-1) plays a key role, as do ghost traps, crossing streams, and a new generation of mini Stay-Puft Marshmallows. The real fun though, comes from the youngsters exploring their grandfather's workshop and the mysterious mountain at the edge of town, which is actually a long-abandoned mine run by the town's founder.
Acting-wise, McKenna Grace as Phoebe is fantastic, a very talented young actress who will go far, I mean she already has if you look at her back catalogue, but I firmly believe that she is here to stay. Quirky and intelligent to represent another famous Ghostbuster, she executes the mannerisms of a social outcast geek perfectly as she tries to learn how to make friends and fit into a new world.
Paul Rudd is utilized very well in this movie, his charm and appeal comes in just how well he fits into the comedic realm of the Ghostbusters universe. His big kid attitude is very welcome to the young cast members, with that sense of wonder and curiosity as he uncovers the realm of ghosts from the past. Logan Kim as Podcast was very funny and did a great job of embodying a half Corey Feldman/half Data-like character from 'The Goonies'.
Wolfhard provides a little of the awkward fun that we got in the first film. Celeste O'Connor was a fine addition as well, helping to progress Wolfhard's character to a point in this new age modelling, but there was a little bit more that could have been done with her. Carrie Coon also gets a thumbs up as the concerned mom with lots of baggage, and some meaningful character development along the way that results in a hugely emotional, but satisfying pay off.
Now, it's obvious how the original cast fit into this movie. They arrive exactly when you expect them to, and even though they're not on screen for too long in order to let the kids prove themselves worthy of taking on the mantle of the Ghostbusters, the film comes to a satisfactory, and tear-jerkingly touching finale, and was certainly the conclusion many of us fans were looking towards.
There is a Spielberg-like charm and feel to this as the movie is based in a small town instead of NYC, and perhaps with this family-friendly focus on the kids, the best comparison might again be 'The Goonies' or 'Stranger Things'. Yes, it's nostalgic, yet it still new and fresh at the same time, and we do get a look at the firehouse, the containment unit, and the familiar rendition of Ray Parker Jr's iconic theme song.
Hang on for the mid-credit and post-credit scenes, and just remember to take this for what it is - a rollicking good time. When it's done properly, when it's done right ... bustin' really makes you feel good.
OVERALL RATING: 8/10