As I began to develop my cinematic palette as a young lad, Ivan Reitman’s iconic Ghostbusters aided in that development. Since then, the film has cemented its place as one of my all-time favorite films and one I hold near and dear to my heart, so it’s always been a shame that a sequel matching the quality of the original had never come to fruition. However, in 2019, that shame turned to optimism as Sony released a small teaser announcing that not only was a new Ghostbusters film on the way, but it was going to be written and directed by Jason.
Two years after that announcement and 37 years after the release of the 1984 classic, Ghostbusters: Afterlife joins the ranks of The Force Awakens and Creed as one of the best “soft reboots/sequels” of the past ten years as the film splashes nostalgia all over the big screen.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is essentially a traditional Jason Reitman film hiding inside a Ghostbusters film. A daughter, estranged from her father, moves her family to his old home after he passes away. But, this is not just any family. They are the Spenglers. The film introduces us to Callie, Phoebe, and Trevor and makes it known that they have money problems and are forced to move into the previously mentioned farmhouse in a small, quiet town in Oklahoma. The family soon realizes that this small town is not peaceful and is the epicenter of new paranormal activity.
The film’s biggest strength is in Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan’s screenplay. The film molds nostalgia and a coming of age story flawlessly as it never alienates those who are not huge on the franchise. Cinephiles just wanting to see a great Reitman film can walk into this film and feel confident that they will not feel left out and, in turn, may create new fans of the Ghostbusters world. In addition, the film homages the original two films in the most effective ways. Easter eggs are sprinkled throughout the movie that only the die-hard fans of the series will notice. From stacked books in the corner of Egon’s living room to the gatekeeper and the key master, each call back had the New York Comic Con crowd, including myself cheering throughout. It was the best film-watching experience I’ve had since Avengers: Endgame, although this one felt a bit sweeter based on the love I have for Ghostbusters.
The strength of Reitman and Kenan’s script is elevated by the charming, charismatic performances in the film. Let’s start with McKenna Grace as Phoebe. I’ve been a fan of Grace’s work for quite some time, and she does not disappoint as she owns the film. She embodies the mannerisms, intelligence, and dry humor of a beloved classic character while offering up some of the more iconic action sequences of the film. I dare not speak in hyperbole when saying that McKenna’s Phoebe is the Ripley for today’s younger generation. If the franchise moves forward, Grace’s Phoebe has cemented herself as the face of the franchise.
Matching Grace’s wit is her partner in crime and her new best friend Podcast, played by Logan Kim. With this being his first film, Kim is the comedic relief and adds many LOL moments. Finn Wolfhard is commendable but doesn’t fully offer enough of an exciting arc that will warrant cinephiles longing to see his progression.
While Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon are both solid and offer a rom-com style friendship/relationship, the minor flaw in the film is that both were underutilized. Now the elephant in the room is, do the original Ghostbusters appear in the movie? I certainly won’t be answering that question in this review as every surprise in Ghostbusters: Afterlife should remain like that – a surprise.
Moving the series away from New York City allowed cinematographer Eric Steelberg to give the film a unique new style and color palette. As a result, there are moments in the film that are downright gorgeous. From the first time Trevor rides the Ecto-1 to some of the film’s final moments, which left me crying in happiness, Steelberg’s work is subtle, precise, and a delight to view.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife was the film Jason Reitman was destined to write and direct. It’s a cinematic love letter to not just fans of the franchise but cinephiles. It’s full of comedy and heart while not attempting to copy and paste the original film but successfully homaging its predecessor while creating a path for new fans and new stories.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is the sequel I’ve waited for my whole life and one of Reitman’s best and most personal films. I laughed. I cried, I smiled. You will too.
