Directed by Gil Kenan, "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" attempts to weave together nostalgic threads from its predecessors and new storylines, leading to a somewhat confusing two-hour long movie. While it does a decent job of blending old and new, it still falls short of deftly managing the fan service.
This instalment encases various characters and storylines in the hallowed Ghostbusters' legacy, while attempting to elucidate a new direction. Although there are moments of laughter, largely attributed to Paul Rudd and Patton Oswalt, this iteration of the classic Ghostbusters tale seems to steer away from its roots.
Co-authors Kenan and Jason Reitman, son of original Ghostbusters director, Ivan Reitman, strive to anchor this movie in the franchise history. Legacy stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Ernie Hudson return to the screen, sharing it with new additions Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace, and Finn Wolfhard. Despite these familiar faces and the avoidance of holographic ploys, the movie fails to sustain genuine interest.
Taking over the iconic firehouse, our new ghostbusting family hunts spectral creatures throughout New York City using Phoebe's (Mckenna Grace) fresh, high-tech gear. Yet, aside from the exciting opening chase scene, the film struggles to maintain its momentum.
The intended ominous threat is an ancient monster, unintentionally released and threatening to unleash an icy apocalypse upon the city. The details of this potential disaster are unduly complex, causing the plot to become bogged down. Despite cameos and potentially interesting storylines, including an under-explored possible teen romance, the movie fails to hit the mark.
Ultimately, "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" leans too heavily on fan service, including over-reliance on the iconic Ray Parker Jr. theme song and other nostalgia. Rather than creating an engaging standalone plot, it appears more engrossed in celebrating the cultural phenomenon that was the original Ghostbusters series.
