Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.

  • Released: 2021-11-11
  • Runtime: 124 minutes
  • Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
  • Stars: Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Sigourney Weaver, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, Logan Kim, Celeste O'Connor, Oliver Cooper, Sydney Mae Diaz, Bokeem Woodbine, Marlon Kazadi, Tracy Letts, Paulina Jewel Alexis, Billy Bryk, Artoun Nazareth, CJ Collard, Bud Klasky, Faith Louissaint, Daniel D'Angelo Sparks, J.K. Simmons, Josh Gad, Bob Gunton, Shawn Seward, Hannah Duke, Chiara Petersen, Danielle Kennedy, Artoun Nazareth, Crystal Roseborough, Dusan Rokvic, Emma Portner, Stella Aykroyd, Kim Faires, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Harold Ramis, Olivia Wilde
  • Director: Jason Reitman
 Comments
  • Ghej663 - 8 June 2024
    The only good part was seeing the old Ghostbusters
    Overall, the movie was watchable and kept me entertained. However, it was hard to ignore the tickboxing agenda that was clearly evident at times.

    The best part of the movie, which added much-needed gravitas, was the addition of the original Ghostbusters. Just hearing their voices was enough to evoke nostalgia and excitement. Even when they didn't say much, their presence overshadowed everything else in the movie. It was a clear sign that they are the reason why the series has been successful, so why change the formula that brought so much joy to everyone?

    Firstly, while it was a break away from the all-female main cast of the previous installment, having a female as the main protagonist didn't give the same feel as the original movies, which were beloved for a reason. While there was a focus on the girl being smart, the male characters were given the same traits but were at times made to look stupid, which detracted from the balanced dynamic that characterized the original films.

    The interracial teen love side story felt see-through and almost pointless. It added little to the main plot and seemed to be included just to tick a box. Additionally, the reference to nonbinary characters came off as forced and nauseating, detracting from the overall experience.

    I found it odd that the main teen character claimed she didn't believe in ghosts, yet minutes later, she was willingly embarking on a quest led by one and becoming a ghostbuster. Similarly, the other teens' lack of natural hesitance when getting involved made it seem unrealistic and broke the immersion.

    In conclusion, while the movie had its entertaining moments, it ultimately fell short of capturing the magic of the original films due to unnecessary tickboxing and unrealistic character development. The highlight was undoubtedly the return of the original Ghostbusters, reminding us of what made the franchise great in the first place.
  • FatPhil - 21 April 2024
    A Slack String of Tropes
    I watched 2016 yesterday, and whilst that wasn't great it didn't do its very best to numb every bit of my brain that is capable of enjoying films, unlike this one. Trope after trope, after trope.

    I'll mention the up-sides - to be honest the child acting wasn't that bad, they did pretty well with the material that was dumped on them. Oh, up-side, not up-sides, I really can't think of a second.

    The downs, oh, my the downs. It's more Scooby-doo than Ghostbusters. With - and correct me if I'm wrong here - a hell of a lot of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" mixed in. (It's even got a young oriental kid for comic relief.) Trope after trop after trope, just so unimaginitive - perhaps the kids this was clearly made for haven't seen the great movies from decades back that this is clearly ripping off? And of course the climax is a "baddie with glowing pew-pew death ray coming from hands" vs. "good guys with pew-pew death ray coming from something held in their hands" CGI battle which is as dire and predictable as it sounds.

    And to finish they pour a bucket of sugary schmultz over your head. Worst, it's not even slime. Gimme the queef jokes from 2016 over this. But I'll survive happily without either.