By Shane J Alliew
Way back in 1984 the ‘original’ Ghostbusters, directed by Ivan Reitman and co-written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis failed to create much of hype. Starring, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Ramis and Aykroyd led a team of ghost-cracking paranormal specialists, hunting them in New York City passed without much of a whimper.
The new version Directed by Paul Feig, (Bridesmaids), co-written with Katie Dippold, introduces us to an all-woman team, for after all, ‘it’s a woman’s world’, or is it?
Nonetheless, the story line remains almost the same; some darn ghosts of the past have escaped into modern day city-life and must be taken care of. But that is before Physicists Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) and Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) had co-authored a research book dealing with the existence of paranormal phenomena such as ghosts.
Even though Erin has disowned the work becoming a professor at Columbia University; Abby continues to study the paranormal at a technical college with eccentric engineer Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon).
Under not so happy circumstances Erin and Abby reunite and Erin reluctantly agrees to assist her and Jillian in a paranormal investigation.
This follows an investigation into the troubles being caused by a horrid ghost, an encounter videotaped and released on You tube, causing Erin to be fired and finally getting in with the others to establish the “Conductors of the Metaphysical Examination.”
Not long before they are joined by all brawn and no brains Kevin Beckman (Chris Hemsworth) as a receptionist and Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones). Patty herself has been a witness to a ghost in a subway line and contacts the group.
It is this ‘unfortunate’ creature they must capture which they successfully do with the latest gadgets and thus earn the name ‘ghost busters’!
But this is not a one off ghost; something seems to be setting the damn things off which are now being released by the scores. So the challenge has just doubled, tripled…and what not!
Will the ladies meet up to the challenge, especially after they have been booed and shooed; remember it’s a man’s world after all and it seems that the male-dominated professional hangover has not been rubbed off!
So here we go, with some old wine in a new bottle- that my dear is the essence of the film.
McCarthy has given it her best shot, especially after her Spy (2015) and is soon establishing herself to be a comic actor which is not that very easy. The vital question however is, what is the future of the same? Versatility is the name of the game, unless of course you are Lucie Ball.
Ghostbusters is a pass time and will pass through time!
Rating: 2/5