Directed by : Paul Feig
Written by : Katie Dippold, Paul Feig
Starring : Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Chris Hemsworth
Release Date : July 11, 2016
It's hard not to compare this 2016 version of "Ghostbusters" to the original one from 1984, because they are so alike in many ways. This remake / retelling follows a very similar plot progression, and shares some of the iconic ideas about people fighting ghosts and the gadgets that come with that. This movie is very much trying to be a well intentioned homage to the original, and it shows. The problem is that it shows too much, without achieving it's own memorably distinct identity; besides the gender switch of the primary characters. With all that said, I still somehow managed to find it entertaining and enjoyable anyway.
As I say often in my reviews, comedy is subjective, and can be very hit or miss. That logic applies to this movie, and it's enjoyment factor hinges a lot on it's brand of sense of humor. There are several fun comedic scenes in this one, even if they tend to be a bit more obvious and physical than what the original's witty and subtle comedy was. Some jokes actually got me to genuinely laugh out loud, and I admit that a lot of what really worked for me were technically dumb and stupid. I couldn't help myself though, but I just found a lot of funny things to laugh at, even if there are still jokes that just fall flat on their face.
Part of the reason a lot of the comedy works is because of the cast. I liked the characters that Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, and Leslie Jones played. I also liked Kate McKinnon and Chris Hemsworth, but I feel like their comedic take in this movie is going to be the most polarizing to many people. McKinnon's Holtzmann is the quirky and odd character that mugs at the camera a lot, that you will either find very hilarious or extremely grating. Hemsworth's Kevin is so dumb and stupid that it's funny, or for some it might be that he is so dumb and stupid that it's just dumb and stupid.
While "Ghostbusters (2016)" comes off a bit more generic than it should be, and doesn't really spark the same kind of imagination and wonder that the original had, it still does a great job playing to it's strengths. Enough so that it's more entertaining and enjoyable than it deserves to be. For a lot of people though, you're better off just watching the original.
lovedit ENJOYED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible
