Joe Morgenstern, in his movie review of Ghostbusters (2016) in the Wall Street Journal, concludes his assessment with this line: “Busting ghosts used to be a lot more fun.” I found this remake of Ghostbusters mildly entertaining. Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones (all Saturday Night Live cast members) combine forces to fight para-normal creatures. Chris Hemsworth (The Mighty Thor!) plays their hunky, dumb blonde secretary. The flaws in the movie are caused by a weak script with too many “slow spots.” And way too much “action” with the proton packs. The women fire their weapons so often it just gets tedious. But, on the plus side, the cast is good and there are some funny lines (though not enough of them) to keep the audience semi-satisfied. GRADE: B-
That’s too bad, though not surprising. I liked the previous Feig/McCarthy movie (SPY) but was afraid this one would be a disappointment. Sounds like McCarthy had to play more of a straight role, where her strength is bringing the crazy as in SPY and BRIDESMAIDS.
Jeff, the retelling of the original GHOSTBUSTERS story stumbled badly. Even Diane, who rarely criticizes movies, said, “There were a lot of slow spots in GHOSTBUSTERS.” The cast is talented, but the script sucked.
The sad part is that all the talent assembled here (both in front of and behind the camera) could have made a wholly original NEW movie with fresh material designed to highlight the strengths of each actress instead of recycling a 30-plus year old movie and trying to fit each female lead into a corresponding (more or less) male role. Oh well, another one to the Netflix queue.
Deb, I was thinking the same thing as I was watching this mess. Why recycle the old GHOSTBUSTERS movie that everyone has seen? Why not do something new? The talented cast was wasted.
Hollywood prefers recycling, they don’t have to hurt their heads thinking so much.
Rick, with movies costing $100 million or more, Hollywood is risk-adverse. They’re going with “sure” things like super-hero movies and sequels.
Too scary for Kevin?
Patti, I didn’t see anything scary in this movie. I thought the Special Effects were tame.
I would have given this a D. Leslie Jones especially is not funny. All she does is yell.
Steve, plenty of reviewers have planned GHOSTBUSTERS. I was mildly entertained. But, as I mentioned to Deb, this was an opportunity lost. This movie could have been much, much better than it was.
All the reviews I’ve seen have mentioned the weak script. I’ll try to see in in the theater if I can, but it will probably be a netflix for me, though I’ll put it right away at the top of the queue
I like all the cast, at least in some of the stuff I’ve seen them in. Wiig is my least favorite, McCarthy the best, followed by McKinnon, who seems to have no fear or much of a filter in the characters she plays.
Maggie, McKinnon took the most risks in GHOSTBUSTERS.
I’m probably not going to watch this – didn’t even find the original so funny …
A bit OT:
Lesley Jones was attacked on the internet it sens by some crazy racists:
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/jul/18/leslie-jones-racist-tweets-ghostbusters
What did she do wrong?
PS:
I also haven’t watched SNL during the last years though I was a big fan of the early days – still remember Blues Brothers, Coneheads etc.
Those were the days!
Sometimes I wonder:
Are films getting worse or am I getting too critical?
Wolf, films are getting more formulaic. Sequels are supposed to be “safe” money-makers. Innovative movie-making is scarce.
W: I’m not sure why Jones got those tweets. I’ve heard there was a controversy about clothing. It seems no designer wanted to do a dress for her for the ghostbusters premiere, due to her size. I saw it mentioned she wasn’t a sample size. Neither is McCarthy, though she is much shorter. One designer did come thru for her.
I’m not sure if McCarthy’s dress was from her collection. McCarthy has a clothing company for plus size women. I’ve heard it is fairly reasonable prices.
I did hear some complaints that Jones character being black wasn’t fitting, but Ernie Hudson was in the original.
I’m most anxious to see Chris Hemsworth’s “mimbo”
I wasn’t really looking forward to this since I love the original so much.
The reviews I’ve seen have actually been pretty good so I’ll give it a try.
Can’t wait for The Suicide Squad!
Beth, I have my tickets to STAR TREK: BEYOND and JASON BOURNE. I’m looking forward to THE SUICIDE SQUAD, too!
This is not a film that should, or needed, to be made.
Rick, having an all-woman cast for GHOSTBUSTERS was the selling point.
If that was all they had, they should have come up with another film idea.
Rick, I totally agree. But most remakes have the same problems.
Jackie’s verdict: we’ll watch the DVD of the original.
Without Bill Murray’s ad libs, what’s the point?
Dr Ray Stantz: Everything was fine with our system until the power grid was shut off by dickless here.
Walter Peck: They caused an explosion!
Mayor: Is this true?
Dr. Peter Venkman: Yes it’s true.
[pause]
Dr. Peter Venkman: This man has no dick.
Walter Peck: Jeez!
[Charges at Venkman]
Mayor: Break it up! Hey, break this up! Break it up!
Walter Peck: All right, all right, all right!
Dr. Peter Venkman: Well, that’s what I heard!
Jeff, my favorite line is when Bill Murray says: “This chick is toast!”
Two faves from Bill Murray in the original GB:
Upon seeing demon-possessed Sigourney Weaver: “Uh, this is a new look for you, huh?”
Possessed Sigourney Weaver: “Are you the Key Master?”
Bill Murray: “Well, he’s a friend of mine.”
Deb, yes! I love that Key Master is a friend of mine response!
I miss Rick Moranis too.
Jeff, Rick Moranis was the unsung hero of the original GHOSTBUSTERS.
Pass!
George, I enjoyed the original Ghostbusters movies and had reservations about this one if only because sequels or even new avatars of films years down the line are often disappointing. Still, I will be watching this film on cable to see how the female ghostbusters compare with the entertaining Bill Murray and the gang.
Prashant, the cast of the remake of the GHOSTBUSTERS is excellent. The script…not so much.
My favorite quote could go on my tombstone:
Where do these stairs go?
They go up.
Beth, those are classic lines!