A kind of sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the 2024 film Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is mostly funny, but also not as good.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) Film Review
Growing up is hard and if there’s one thing Phoebe Spangler (McKenna Grace) is feeling the pangs of just now, it’s this. Making this a harder transition is the revoking of her role as a ghostbuster. This after the mayor is annoyed to see the team wreak havoc in the city streets. A family business, doing this work is in Pheobe’s blood just as her smarts are. But along with her mother (Carrie Coon), brother Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and pseudo stepfather, Gary (Paul Rudd), Phoebe does this work well. Only now it’s been taken from her.
When she befriends a ghost (Emily Alyn Lind), she finds in Melody a kind of kindred spirit and one that starts to make Phoebe feel as though she too would like to be a ghost. Thing is she also makes a mistake that could take away not just her role as a ghostbuster, but her family’s, too.
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‘GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE’ RETURNS WITH MORE FUNNY MAYHEM! Review of the 2024 #Ghostbusters popcorn flick! #McKennaGrace and #PaulRudd star. Click To TweetThis is a kind of follow-up to ‘Afterlife’ which was, in a way, a kind of sequel to the Ghostbuster films of the 80s. While this one still has the usual things that fits this world, it’s also missing something I don’t think I can put my finger on. There’s still humor, and I love that the cast returns, even friends Lucky and Podcast, but the film doesn’t really make me feel anything outside of the normal laugh here and there. I did find the role of Gary interesting, and the seeds the writer plants about what that entails, but again, it doesn’t really make us feel much because we don’t get much from those seeds.
Beyond this Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is just fun. It’s a popcorn flick with some cool effects and characters we root on even if only for the fact of seeing good triumph. As a result, this still entertains. It’s neat to see Carrie Coon in something so very improper (by comparison) to her role in The Gilded Age. Similarly, seeing McKenna Grace in this almost all grown up role after watching her in films, as a kid, like Gifted. I think everyone suits their roles even if we don’t really get much characterization. Plus, those who adore the 80s films will enjoy seeing the original cast members leave their mark, even on this film.
You can stream Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, at publication, with Netflix
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Content: There’s not much to note unless you’re not a fan of this brand of “violence” which is more humorous than anything. The gang traps many a ghost through help from various methods (hammer, electricity devices, fire) and there’s a possibly terrifying creature that operates as the bad guy. There is some minor PG-13 profanity and comments about the sex life of two adults (it’s more innuendo than anything and is also quite brief).
Photos: Sony