Ghostbusters

Ghostbusters

Upon release of the allegedly “lousy” trailer of Paul Feig’s gender-bender reboot of the 1984 classic, Ghostbusters, netizens immediately imagined numerous ways how it could go wrong. Sure enough, this controversy is addressed during the film with a misogynistic, break-the-fourth-wall YouTube comment to a ghost footage, “Ain’t no bitches gonna hunt no ghosts.” Perhaps, this where the reboot shines best – it is unapologetically confident and goofy at the same time. Ghostbusters gets the business done by strapping on a proton pack and carefully aiming at its themes – gags, guns, ghosts and girl power.

One step away from earning her tenure, physics professor Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) is dragged back to the world of paranormal investigation when her friend Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) and an eccentric engineer, Jillian Holtzmann (Kate Mckinnon), coerced her to accompany them into a historic New York mansion believed to be haunted with ghosts. As the group witness and upload online a malevolent ghost attack, enthusiastic transit worker Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones) signs up for action and even provides a vehicle for their adventures – her uncle’s hearse, soon refashioned to Ecto-1. Also enlisted as the group’s secretary is the unbelievably stupid Kevin (Chris Hemsworth) who is hired mainly due to his physicality made of “pure muscle and baby-soft skin.” (as Erin points out). One thing leads to another and “The Conductors of Metaphysical Examination” opens in business with the mission to capture ghosts using proton packs and an array of unstable-looking equipment. It doesn’t take a while before the media starts dubbing them as the “Ghostbusters.”

From L to R: Erin Gilbert (Kirsten Wiig), Jillian Holtzman (Kate McKinnon), Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy), Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones)

If there’s something wrong with this movie, it’s definitely not the four perfectly-cast female leads. They are in fact the film’s greatest strength. Wiig’s underplayed style of comedy may be outshined by other casts but she’s also allowed by the script to occasionally lose control. I’m pointing out to a hilarious scene when she hysterically warns people to evacuate the city while being dragged by a couple of security guards. McCarthy may be more restrained here compared to her role in Spy and Bridesmaids, but she still manages to be sharp and snappy especially in picking fights with her delivery boy over the number of wantons in her soup. Jones’ loudness never comes as annoying to me. Her reaction when a gremlin/dragon (or whatever that thing is, does that qualify as a ghost?) perches on her shoulders is one of the film’s best moments. Special commendation to Hemsworth for taking on a role that does not rely mainly in the looks department but also one that requires comedic chops to pull off. His character though is just too stupid to be real: He hangs up the phone whenever he’s overloaded with info and stops to grab a sandwich amidst an action-packed fight. The real MVP, however, is McKinnon. She could be babbling instructions how to operate gadgets or just there in the background munching Pringles (“Try saying no to these salty parabolas.”) still she constantly steals scenes with her punk swagger.

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Purists who believe that Hollywood is doomed to the endless stream of recycling old films will still be hard-pressed to care about this reincarnation, or will even metaphorically spout torrents of ectoplasmic green slime after seeing it. Still, this is Feig’s so far most visually engaging film. Did I laugh? A lot of times, actually. This is worth watching for the four female leads alone and for that, it is safe to say that this reboot of Ghostbusters successfully passes the torch to a new generation. This is no masterpiece but it’s a solid piece of summer entertainment.

“Bustin’ makes me feel good!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH5rgRXkgAk

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