If there’s something strange…
The recent trend of remake, reboot, revamped films continues with the 2016 version of Ghostbusters. Starring the all female team of Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones, the film is directed by Paul Feig who co-wrote the script with Katie Dippold.
Much like the original, the film follows a group of scientists of varying background who are drawn into the world of paranormal investigation and ghost containment. Wiig and McCarthy are former colleagues that having written a book on the occult many years again are reunited when news of a ghost reaches them, and combined with McKinnon’s Jillian Holtzmann they form the team that you’re gonna call.
The team are later joined by Jones’ Patty Tolan, a worker on the subway who witnesses one of the rapidly appearing spirits. The team are later joined by a receptionist in the form of Chris Hemsworth whose role completes the original team’s gender reversals.
With all of these remake/reboots/homage films (which include Jurassic World, Terminator:Genesys, Force Awakens, Creed, Mad Max:Fury Road amongst others) it’s hard to find one that was met with such a level of pre-viewing distain. The trailer was instantly panned and the reviews of the film were much the same.
The truth is that it is alright. That’s the best I can say. Its not as bad as some of the reviews that I read, but it’s poor at times. When you think about the comedic talent involved, it should be up to a lot more.
Possibly its based on film that the world wasn’t ready to see remade, but quite possibly it just isn’t as funny as it thinks it is, nor as clever, nor as good.