You didn't have to summon the ghost of Nostradamus to be able and predict that the successful "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" would quickly lead to another sequel, and maybe even a completely new series. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed that 2021 comeback film, but it was basically everything that Hollywood loves the most: big financial profit through minimal creative effort. Everybody wanted to see the new generation of ghostbusters team up with the original members. Everybody loves nostalgia; - including me.
But the second "legacy sequel" - apparently that's what they call this type of films - already painfully makes clear that even nostalgia has an expiration date. "Frozen Empire" simply isn't very good. The plot blindly follows the structure of all the previous films, and popular gimmicks/fixed values are dragged in purely for nostalgia, but they aren't adding any value (like the Slimer-creature, the little marshmallow-men, and even Bill Murray himself).
Like in the old days, Ghostbusters proves that people - and inhabitants of New York in particular - are ungrateful hypocrites suffering from continuous memory loss. Despite having saved the city three times already, the Ghostbusters are only blamed for reckless behavior and receive lawsuits for destroying half of the city whenever they go out to bust a ghost or creature. The familiar looking mayor even wants to shut them down permanently. Meanwhile, a new and almighty evil creature manifests itself through an ancient artifact and patiently awaits the right time to turn NY into the titular frozen empire. Its name is Garraka, and this malignant ice deity is by far the biggest reason to seek out the new "Ghostbusters" movie, as it's imposing and genuinely uncanny.
It certainly isn't a punishment to watch this new entry in the 40-year-old franchise. Paul Rudd is always fun to watch, the sub plot about two melancholic teen girls - one alive and one dead - is endearing, Kumail Nanjiani has a few funny lines, and it was nice to see Dan Aykroyd in a significant role again. In the end and rationally analyzed, though, it's an unmemorable Sci-Fi/action flick of which you realize you wouldn't bother to go to the cinema for if it hadn't the "Ghostbusters" label on it.
But the second "legacy sequel" - apparently that's what they call this type of films - already painfully makes clear that even nostalgia has an expiration date. "Frozen Empire" simply isn't very good. The plot blindly follows the structure of all the previous films, and popular gimmicks/fixed values are dragged in purely for nostalgia, but they aren't adding any value (like the Slimer-creature, the little marshmallow-men, and even Bill Murray himself).
Like in the old days, Ghostbusters proves that people - and inhabitants of New York in particular - are ungrateful hypocrites suffering from continuous memory loss. Despite having saved the city three times already, the Ghostbusters are only blamed for reckless behavior and receive lawsuits for destroying half of the city whenever they go out to bust a ghost or creature. The familiar looking mayor even wants to shut them down permanently. Meanwhile, a new and almighty evil creature manifests itself through an ancient artifact and patiently awaits the right time to turn NY into the titular frozen empire. Its name is Garraka, and this malignant ice deity is by far the biggest reason to seek out the new "Ghostbusters" movie, as it's imposing and genuinely uncanny.
It certainly isn't a punishment to watch this new entry in the 40-year-old franchise. Paul Rudd is always fun to watch, the sub plot about two melancholic teen girls - one alive and one dead - is endearing, Kumail Nanjiani has a few funny lines, and it was nice to see Dan Aykroyd in a significant role again. In the end and rationally analyzed, though, it's an unmemorable Sci-Fi/action flick of which you realize you wouldn't bother to go to the cinema for if it hadn't the "Ghostbusters" label on it.