Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Image credit: themoviedc.org

It’s an odd feeling when a franchise gets rebooted, to fairly positive applause, and then gets a sequel that just doesn’t hit the same heights or notes of the reboot. It just goes to show that rebooting beloved cinematic greats are a slippery slope indeed. This train of thought comes from going along to see Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, after quite enjoying Afterlife. All I can say is that the sequel is fine, but nowhere near as enjoyable as its predecessor.

The new Ghostbusters have set themselves up in the old haunt from days bygone, and while there is plenty of work to keep them occupied, it is not without its problems. Constantly getting in trouble for damages to both private and public property, the strain is really put on when Mayor Peck threatens to shut them down if Pheobe (still being a minor) continues to work for them. As familial tensions begin to run high, a new spook threatens humanity: one that will literally leave its victims frozen in fear.

I think everything about this movie was fine and nothing more. Alongside the age-old threat that gets unknowingly unleashed and threatens to bring about a second Ice Age, we have the emotional dramas of teenage angst and its role in familial conflict. Pheobe becomes the annoying adolescent who thinks they know everything and while there is absolutely some truth to this – seeing as she is up against ‘dickless’ from the very first movie – it nevertheless becomes annoying very quickly as well as narratively predictable.

Alongside the family drama we have another ancient evil that threatens the world: a pretty cool exhibition of creature design and computer wizardry. Equipment, gags, and scenes from the original classic are back in the spotlight causing the same problems as before, but because the capturing and containment of apparitions became a science back in the ‘80s there are a number of cool and fascinating upgrades that come into play.

At the end of the day, I just found this sequel a bit lacking. The personal dramas of the characters that run alongside the central conflict are predicable and even lackluster, the character growth is kind of boring and minimal, and there aren’t really any new jokes to lift the film’s spirit.

Image credit: IMDb

Filled with action, chases, drama, and a race against time, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is a fine and kind of fun way to pass the time, but I definitely feel that there is more love and enjoyment to be had from its predecessor.

Director: Gil Kenan (2024)

Cast: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, McKenna Grace, Logan Kim, Celeste O’Connor, Patton Oswalt, Emily Alyn Lind, Kumail Nanjiani, Ernie Hudson, Dan Akroyd, Annie Potts, & William Atherton