Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire – A Review
After the much-anticipated release of “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” last year, the inclusion of the original cast members was no longer a secret. However, the latest installment, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” seems to have lost the emotional impact of its predecessor while focusing too much on the wrong characters.
The first film beautifully explored the legacy of Egon Spengler, as his daughter and grandkids accepted their role in the ghostbusting world. It also introduced the charming new character of Gary, played by Paul Rudd. In contrast, “Frozen Empire” gets tangled in teenage issues and introduces new supporting players who fail to create a meaningful impact.
The 1980s editions of Ghostbusters always thrived on Bill Murray’s comedic brilliance. While Murray does reprise his role, his screen time in “Frozen Empire” is disappointingly brief. The scattered nature of the movie hinders its ability to establish the latest supernatural threat, instead focusing too much on Phoebe, a brilliant 15-year-old feeling underappreciated and struggling with her mother’s relationship.
Sony Pictures
Bill Murray reprises his role, briefly, in “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.”
The central plot revolves around an artifact that could unleash a destructive being capable of freezing the world. Nadeem, the inheritor of the artifact, is caught in a reluctant battle against this threat while intending to profit from his grandmother’s collection.
This time, Gil Kenan takes the director’s chair, following in the footsteps of Jason Reitman, who helmed the previous film. The script, credited to both Kenan and Reitman, pays tribute to Ivan Reitman, who directed the original Ghostbusters films but sadly passed away in 2022.
Despite the abundance of callbacks to the original and the involvement of Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, and William Atherton, “Frozen Empire” lacks the consistent charm and nostalgia of its predecessors. While the focus on the Spengler family was a moving tribute to the late Harold Ramis, the family dynamics in the present day fall short both collectively and individually.
Nevertheless, the talented cast manages to conjure a few enjoyable moments. However, the overall feeling is that “Frozen Empire” is merely going through the motions, rather than joyfully revisiting the old neighborhood.
Looking ahead, it’s unlikely that “Ghostbusters” will fade into oblivion. However, “Frozen Empire” feels like a slightly rehashed version of the original concept.
“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” is set to premiere on March 22 in theaters across the United States. This film is rated PG-13.