Ghostbusters: Afterlife | Average Guy Movie Review

A woman moves her family to a small town in Oklahoma to settle her estranged father's affairs. Whilst there, the kids learn who their grandfather was, about his work as a Ghostbuster. And with all the strange occurrences going on in this small town, it soon becomes clear why he left New York.

Ivan Reitman, director of Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II has officially passed the torch to his son Jason Reitman. A successful director himself, Jason was the moody kid that once told Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) "my dad says you guys are full of crap". It would appear that he has had a change of heart, because not only has he brought the original timeline/universe into the 21st century, he has opened up the franchise to a whole new generation of fans. Something he credits Paul Feig for making possible. Afterlife is everything you'd expect a Ghostbusters movie to be, wrapped up in this touching family drama. Much like with the directors, this is about passing the torch, and Callie (Carrie Coon)'s struggles with her father's apparent abandonment of her makes for a perfect way to reintroduce us to this world. But it's the kids that truly make this movie what it is. Their inquisitive nature brings a giddy excitement to proceedings. McKenna Grace's 'Phoebe' is very much the heart and soul of this story. She delivers a delightful performance, one that perfectly reflects the personality and mannerisms of her on-screen grandfather. 

As the kids explore their grandfather's old house, and Paul Rudd's Ghostbusters obsessed scientist helps them experiment with the old equipment they find, fans will be taken back to a time when they first discovered the beloved paranormal investigators and eliminators. Seeing Finn Wolfhard fire up a battered ECTO-1 and finally put the beloved Cadillac through it's paces is pure joy. A feeling that only increases as the kids use it to chase 'Muncher' through the streets of Summerville, with Phoebe firing a proton pack from the "gunner's seat" and Podcast - a very loveable Logan Kim who, as his name would suggest, enjoys podcasting - driving a remote control trap. And thanks to some modern visual effects, everything from the supernatural activity to the proton streams, and the damage they cause, all look incredible. Especially when some old friends come to play. This is fan service done right. But that's not all this is. Afterlife is far from a simple rehash of the 1984 original. It's a journey of discovery (or rediscovery) for both characters and audiences alike. Sure there are some familiar story beats, but this is about continuing something that was started over thirty years ago - not to mention a little unfinished business.

If Afterlife does have a weakness it would have to be the return of the original cast. Not that the return itself is bad, far from it. In fact, seeing the O.G. Ghostbusters return is a lot of fun, and it serves as a loving tribute to Harold Ramis, with Egon Spengler having an important role to play. But the brevity of their appearance does leave the whole thing feeling a little tokenistic. Yes, this is supposed to be about a new generation of Ghostbusters, but it would have been nice to see more of a passing of the torch. Old and young working together. When Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts) shows up relatively early on, it seems like she will stay for the duration, or at least pop up on a semi-regular basis. However, after a brief moment on screen she is gone, only returning for a post-credits scene. On the bright side, that same post-credits scene does finally give Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) some much deserved recognition. He has always been a big part of Ghostbusters, and yet, before now has mostly been relegated to a secondary role. That is no longer the case. This same scene poses some interesting questions about the future, and where things go from here. If Afterlife is anything to go by, it  means following this new generation of Ghostbusters as they carry on the fight against spooks, spectres and ghosts - with a Reitman as director. 

Jason Reitman has brought this beloved franchise into the 21st century, and he's done it in a way that perfectly balances the desire for nostalgia with the need for something new. Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a brilliant sequel, an exciting reboot, and a heart-warming story about family, all at once.  

9/10

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