'Ghostbusters' A Review

Ghostbusters is a supernatural action-comedy, a female driven reboot of the 1984 original. Something or someone is instigating frequent and destructive ethereal manifestations in NYC. Dr. Erin Gilbert(Kristen Wiig) once a ghost enthusiast, now attempting to shed her past in an effort to get tenure at Columbia University is tracked down by someone looking for help with their haunted house. Gilbert takes him to meet her former colleague and unabashed supernatural scientist Dr. Abby Yates(Melissa McCarthy). Along with Yates' new colleague Holtzmann(Kate McKinnon) they go to investigate. After an intense encounter with an apparition the three begin their ghostly research in earnest. Shortly after MTA worker Patty Tolan(Leslie Jones) joins them and they become, officially, the Ghostbusters.

The four leads have incredible chemistry- fun, comfortable, and harmonic. McCarthy in her most understated and straight performance to date is refreshing, compelling, and funny. Wiig although still charming, as she always is, falls a bit in comparison given she isn't necessarily bringing anything new to the screen. Jones in her first big screen lead gives an incredibly strong turn- likable, effectively big at times, but never without heart. McKinnon however is the secret weapon of the film. Cartoonish, almost impressionistic, but still at all times maintaining reality McKinnon's Holtzmann gets a huge percentage of the film's laughs as well as its most bizarre and delicious dialogue. I defy any Ghostbusters detractor to not be delighted and energized by McKinnon's manic relish.

There is enough satisfying references to the original as well as cameos to activate the nostalgia endorphins but not so much so where the film feels like a retread. In fact other than the bare bones of the story everything is new, the four leads are not analogous to their counterparts, the villain is different, the whole construct is more inspired-by than reboot. Ghostbusters provides the similar kind of enjoyment Force Awakens did, the past was referenced and incorporated but ultimately its the start of something refreshingly and excitingly new.

Above and beyond the humor and entertainment of the film there is a sense of and immense gratification in an idea whose time has come. That a big budget action-comedy can be helmed by female leads, that not only that but it can be done in the instance of a modern classic reboot. The film is unquestionably a sign of progress. And what an exhilarating, fun, and oddly cathartic sign of progress it is.

Don't Miss It.