Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

• I’m pretty relieved that this was such a step up from the 2016 reboot. Of course, this one is actually canon to the two 80’s Ghostbusters, so it’s not even the same storyline as the 2016 one. It was nice going back into the real timeline and seeing the continuation of the actually good storyline. This movie does a good job of being an even combination of new characters and a new story with old characters and an old story. I don’t think it relies too much on the 80’s Ghostbusters for this to be good. Yes, a large chunk of the movie is derived from legacy characters, but it still feels somewhat original. The biggest thing that hurts the movie, however, is the return of the same villains from the 1984 movie. Although the plot feels fresher, I was a bit disappointed when there weren’t more original ghosts/villains. It worked bringing back the original Ghostbusters at the end, but not so much with the same ghosts. Speaking of characters, I did mostly enjoy the Spengler family (and definitely Podcast and Mr. Grooberson). They were all youthful and serious, and I loved the change of pace. As mentioned, the original Ghostbusters return, which was absolutely awesome, and the best part is that they didn’t steal the spotlight at all. I think the creative decisions with Egon Spengler weren’t necessarily the best, but it didn’t hurt the movie hugely. Finally, the special effects were pretty fantastic, with a good mix of CGI and a few physical props. It has a modern, updated look that isn’t overdone or in-your-face. Overall, this movie does have its weaknesses (mostly with some of the writing), but it’s still fun. I’d recommend it to all Ghostbuster fans.