‘Ghostbusters’: Righteous Reboot The Right Kind Of Boo
By Joey Click
Ghostbusters (2016)
The Ghostbusters (from left to right): Leslie Jones, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, and Kate McKinnon in Paul Feig’s ‘Ghostbusters’-Courtesy of Sony
The following review of Ghostbusters contains minor spoilers. You’ll be fine to read the review before jumping in the Ecto-1 and heading to the theater.
THE PLOT:
After Erin, a highly respected collage professor hoping to make tenure, discovers her long-time friend has published a book the two so-authored on the paranormal, she seeks out her friend in hopes she’ll discontinue the book out of fear of embarrassment. But when actual ghosts emerge from the depths of The Windy City, the two, along with an eccentric engineer and a New York subway worker, must fight the forces of fright before a maniacal spirit-lord consumes all of New York. Not being taken seriously in science is one thing. Not having anyone to call is something horrible. Welcome to Ghostbusters. Righteous
THE REVIEW:
Growing up, I loved Ghostbusters. No, I’m not child of the 80s (I was born in 1987), but my upbringing was a steady course of great films and I ogled Ivan Reitman’s original classic till the tape wore. I even loved part two, and while that love has since faded into nostalgic hate like a scorned lover remembering the good times; Venkman, Ray, Egon, and Whinston were a big part of my childhood.
So when I heard Paul Feig, an actor-turned-filmmaker whose directorial work was extensively tied to the career of Melissa McCarthy, was making an all-female remake of the 1984 classic, I was quite skeptical. But I eventually swallowed my pride and made my way to the dusty theater on the out skirts of town when the film was released.
What I found was more than a little surprising. So let’s all put on our proton packs, hop in the Ecto-1, and call up some Ghostbusters as I review the hilarious 2016 creep comedy, Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters.
THE ACTING:
Like the desert bar at a buffet when you’re a youngling, the performances are the best and most delicious part of the Ghostbusters reboot experience; the cast’s chemistry is explosive.
We put a ghost in a box!-Jillian Holtzmann
Kristen Wiig leads a mostly female cast in the role of Erin Gilbert. What makes Wig, who got her start on Saturday Night Live and became a household name after 2011’s Bridesmaids (also directed by Feig), so effective is her natural ability to gain the audience’s empathy almost immediately. We care for Erin from the beginning and would do anything to make sure she isn’t harmed or hurt. Throw in Wig’s comedic ability, which Ghostbusters uses in dashes, and you have quite a character.
Melissa McCarthy‘s performing abilities are also on full display in Ghostbusters. What surprised me most about McCarthy’s take on Abby Yates, the leader of the ghostbusters and who believes in the paranormal the most, was how she didn’t try to scene steal with the comedy, and instead, dove into her character. Though McCarthy is still funny in the film, it’s not the same tired McCarthy caricature we see in almost every film the actress is in. Here, McCarthy gives Abby a huge dose of humbleness and empathy. Even McCarthy haters will be impressed.
Kate McKinnon as Jillian Holtzmann in Paul Feig’s ‘Ghostbusters’-Courtesy of Sony
Then there’s Kate McKinnon. Playing Jillian Holtzmann, McKinnon is simply a revelation in Ghostbusters. The actress, who gained attention on Saturday Night Live (is every actress from the film an SNL alum?), has so much charisma on display and steal scenes faster than Billy the Kid taking care of old school Texans. McKinnon’s abilities in not only comedy but also in keeping you glued to her every move is phenomenal; she’s simply magnetic. There’re scenes where I couldn’t keep my eyes off her, and that’s even when she wasn’t speaking. She’s without a doubt the standout of the film and I imagine this is just the beginning for the future star.
Leslie Jones is also hilarious (another SNL member) and Chris Hemsworth turns in solid work. The cast is the best part of Ghostbusters and it’s scary good. (A)
Next: Call Writer/Director Paul Feig?