Film Review: Ghostbusters: Afterlife

 

                      

The 1984 trio of university researchers who became director Ivan Reitman’s original “Ghostbusters” were a little slapdash in the ethics department. 

Now, 37 years later, Reitman’s son Jason co-wrote and helms “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” featuring not just the aged scientists but a much younger trio of kids equally amused by ghosts and other weirdness.

Does it stand up to its illustrious ancestor? Oh, yes. This time we’ve got Phoebe (McKenna Grace), a smart, scientifically savvy 13-year-old as shocked as mom Callie (Carrie Coon) and brother Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) to see the godawful mess of a house left to Callie by her recently deceased scientist dad. But they’ve been tossed out of their place for nonpayment of rent and have little choice. The house has a “Psycho” feel to it but it’s in much worse shape.

Phoebe is fascinated by the place. She finds herself playing chess with an invisible spirit that moves the pieces. She also makes friends with a local boy named Podcast (Logan Kim), equally interested in science, who talks about “ghost traps” and the like. He finds and blows on an Aztec death whistle, and opines about the Sumerians, who he says believed in a land of the dead. This will be important when he and Phoebe end up down a cavernous hole.

While the kids are enjoying themselves, Callie meets Mr. Grooberson, a teacher played by Paul Rudd (apropos of nothing, Rudd was just named People Magazine’s sexiest man alive), who takes a liking to her.

All kinds of goofy things happen, including the expected appearance of ghosts (looking like something out of a kid’s cartoon) and funny noises and all kinds of odd stuff. Grooberson meets a monster at Walmart. Callie becomes a monster.

The cast is excellent. The three kids are especially delightful, and Rudd’s Grooberson will delight kids who have had, shall we say, unusual teachers.

Even the holdovers from the last film, Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Dr. Raymond Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) and Dr. Winston Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson) show up. 

It’s a reunion of sorts, just as goofy as all the other craziness that goes on in this silly, delightful escape from the current disaster we call real life. Don’t miss it.

Opens November 19 only in theaters.