Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a massive disappointment
Film review: Ghostbusters: Afterlife (12A), seen at The Light Cinema, Wisbech.
Cast: Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Logan Kim and Celeste O’Connor.
Running time: 2 hours, 4 minutes. Director: Jason Reitman.
I was a teenager in 1984 when the original Ghostbusters movie came out but I’ve somehow never seen it – I had viewed trailers for this sequel to 1989’s Ghostbusters II, though, and they made the film look good enough to pique my interest.
And, at the start, it did look like it was going to be fun – before petering out to a bit of a damp squib which leaves director Jason Reitman with ectoplasm all over his face.
The idea was great: when a single mum and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.
Reitman then throws everything but the original kitchen sink at it as he strives for nostalgia.
There’s lots of references to the original movies and lots of props from the eighties films too. It’s even written by original Ghostbuster Dab Aykroyd and directed by the son of Ivan Reitman, who was at the helm for the first film.
And then there’s the cameo appearances by Bill Murray, Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Sigourney Weaver. Hell, they even throw in a CGI ghost version of the late Harold Ramis. Trouble is, it’s billed as a ‘supernatural comedy’... and it’s just not very funny.
Logan Kim as Podcast probably provides the most laughs, Finn Wolfhard (Trevor) and Mckenna Grace (Phoebe) are likeable without lighting up the screen, and Carrie Coon (Callie) and Paul Rudd (Grooberson) were fine, but their romance just didn’t seem real and we didn’t see enough of the Ant-Man star.
Celeste O’Connor was cool and sassy as Lucky but, like Rudd, she didn’t get enough screen time.
And the appearance of the original Ghostbusters was a flop for me too. Indeed, one ‘comedy’ scene involving Murray (Peter Venkman) is almost embarrassing, it’s so bad.
Rating: 5/10
By Jeremy Ransome
Coming up at The Luxe Cinema, Alexandra Road, from Friday...
Ghostbusters Afterlife (12A)
Fri: 16:45 & 20:00; Sat 13:00, 16:15 & 19:30; Sun 13:00 & 16:30; Mon 16:30 & 19:45; Wed,Dec 1: 19:00 (subtitled); Thurs, Dec 2: 16:45 & 20:00
Event Cinema: Anything Goes - The Musical (U)
Sun: 19:45
Now Open to Book
Petit Maman, Encanto, Andre Rieu: Christmas With Andre, House of Gucci, NT Live 2022 Season, ROH The Nutcracker and much more!
Coming up at The Light Cinema, Cromwell Road, from Friday...
A Boy Called Christmas (TBC)
Daily except Sat, Sun: 11:15, 15:45. Sat, Sun: 10:00, 12:35, 15:10, 17:50
Anything Goes - The Musical (U)
Sun: 19:30. Wed: 12:00, 19:30. Thurs: 12:00
Dune (12A)
Mon, Tues: 12:00. Sat, Sun: 15:50. Wed, Thurs: 11:45
Encanto (PG)
Daily except Sat, Sun: 12:45, 15:20, 18:00. Sat, Sun: 10:15, 11:00, 13:00, 13:40, 15:40, 18:20. Sun 11: Autism friendly.
Eternals (12A)
Fri, Mon, Tues: 13:10, 16:30, 19:50. Sat: 12:00, 16:20, 19:40. Sun: 12:30, 16:00, 19:50. Wed: 15:15, 18:50. Thurs: 15:40, 19:10
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (12A)
Daily except Sat, Sun: 13:45, 16:40, 17:30, 19:30, 20:20. Sat, Sun: 10:20, 13:15, 16:10, 18:00, 19:00, 20:30
House of Gucci (15)
Fri, Mon, Tues: 12:30, 15:30, 16:10, 19:00, 19:45. Sat: 12:40, 16:15, 19:10, 19:45. Sun: 12:40, 16:15, 19:45. Wed: 12:30, 15:40, 16:15, 19:45. Thurs: 12:30 (subtitled), 15:15, 16:10, 18:50 (subtitled), 19:45
King Richard (12A)
Daily except Sat, Sun: 11:20, 14:25; Fri: 11.20 (baby friendly).Tue: 11.20 silver screening.
No Time To Die (12A)
Fri, Mon, Tues: 12:10, 15:40, 19:15. Sat: 15:40, 19:15. Sun: 16:15, 19:15. Wed: 11:50, 15:30, 19:10. Thurs: 11:50, 15:30, 19:00
Pirates (15)
Daily except Sat, Sun: 21:00. Sat, Sun: 20:50
Ron’s Gone Wrong (PG)
Sat, Sun: 10:30, 13:10
Spencer (12A)
Daily except Sat, Sun: 13:00, 18:15
The Addams Family 2 (PG)
Sat, Sun: 10:10
The Boss Baby: Family Business (PG)
Sat, Sun: 10:05, 12:45, 15:20
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (15)
Daily except Sat, Sun: 20:40. Sat, Sun: 21:00
