‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ Review

We were first exposed to a crew of improbable heroes in the original Ghostbusters film: scientists who investigated paranormal concerns in New York City. Frozen Empire returns to this iconic location, chronicling the adventures of a fifteen-year-old scientist (McKenna Grace), her mother (Carrie Coon), her dopey brother (Finn Wolfhard), and their quasi-stepfather (Paul Rudd). They work together to try and step into the original Ghostbusters’ shoes. But when a new ghost is unleashed by an ancient object and threatens to throw the city into frigid turmoil, their mettle is put to the test. This makeshift family is forced to come together and face the impending catastrophe.

Frozen Empire is the fifth film in the Ghostbusters franchise and acts as the follow-up to Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Jason Reitman was originally supposed to be the project’s director and writer, but co-writer Gil Kenan took up the reins. Given his background in horror movies such as Poltergeist and Monster House, one could have anticipated that Kenan would contribute a sophisticated take on the horror-comedy subgenre. His treatment of the cherished series, nevertheless, isn’t commendable because it falls short of encapsulating the spirit that first made Ghostbusters so popular.

Frozen Empire departs from the initial films by attempting to tell a story that is more serious and focused on characters while retaining the humor that made the first few movies so popular. However, it struggles with a lack of coherence and balance in its application. The movie follows an all too familiar template and falls into the trap of feeling like just another CGI piece. Although some could contend that the original movies likewise adhered to a formula, the distinction is in how novel that formula was. It is imperative that the story be updated and developed after forty years, or provide a compelling incentive to return it. Sadly, Frozen Empire fails to offer a novel viewpoint or inventiveness, which eventually leads to a story that seems dull and uninspired.

The film struggles with its identity, swinging between bringing in fresh ideas and characters and relying too much on fan nostalgia. Although nostalgia is a useful tool when employed properly, the movie has trouble executing it. The marketing made it clear that nostalgia would be evident and while nostalgia isn’t always a bad thing, it should enhance the tale rather than overpower it. Unfortunately, it is overused in awkward and pointless ways that don’t improve the story as a whole.

The only original cast member who makes a substantial contribution to the plot is Dan Aykroyd’s Ray, underscoring the movie’s dependence on well-known characters. It would be easy to replace the remaining cast members with little effect, highlighting the discrepancy between the film’s new and old parts.

With the exception of the scenes involving McKenna Grace, the narrative is uninteresting. Grace’s character is sidelined because of her age, which restricts her participation in the family’s ghost-hunting activities. Nevertheless, in a moving scene, Emily Alyn Lind plays a ghost who plays chess with her in the park. Their talk draws the audience in with its nuanced depth and emotion, and it serves as the movie’s first high point. The film momentarily comes to life as they enjoy several more scenes together, highlighting their unique connection. These moments are few and far between, though, and the storyline eventually becomes cliched, losing the narrative’s original depth.

Another highlight of the movie is Kumail Nanjiani, who skillfully returns the franchise to its humorous roots anytime he appears on screen. His delivery evokes true laughter, creating some of the most memorable moments in the movie. But as the narrative goes on, his character slips down a cliche slope. Despite this, Nanjiani makes the most of the material provided to him and enhances the appeal of his performance.

The main antagonist of the movie falls short of creating a genuine feeling of stakes. This character’s goals and past are presented solely through exposition; it lacks the “show don’t tell” element necessary to captivate viewers. Every story point feels foreseeable, culminating in a dull and uninspiring fight at the end. The absence of originality and standout scenes lessens the power of the movie’s climax and leaves audiences wanting more from the main conflict.

Frozen Empire feels more appropriate for a straight-to-streaming platform than it does for the big screen. A lot of people may come to regret spending money and time on this chapter. The movie fails to live up to the original Ghostbusters charm, leaving viewers with a feeling of mediocrity punctuated with brief moments of fascination. Frozen Empire lacks the allure and charm that drew viewers to the previous series. It falls short of providing any significant progression of thematic investigation and of recapturing the spirit of what first made Ghostbusters so adored.