Ghostbusters

It dawned on me the other day that I’ve pretty much had a life long relationship with Ghostbusters.

It would have started in the mid/late 80’s when I would have first watched the animated series : The Real Ghostbusters. Not long after that I would have first watched 1984’s classic Ghostbusters. 1989 bought us Ghostbusters 2, a film that I genuinely have never understood the negativity that it sometimes attracts.

It’s odd that just two films from over 30 years ago and a animated series that I long ago out grew would have had such an effect on me and many others but that’s what happened. The “No Ghosts” symbol became embedded in popular culture and pretty much stayed, often seen being worn by people who were far too young to remember the films being released.

Calls for a third film were always there, and if the stories are to be believed, a loose script existed. But sadly it never came to pass at that time. Bill Murray was notoriously against returning to the franchise, Dan Akroyd could never get a version of the story that he was happy with and the late, great Harold Ramos had long fallen out with Murray.

A computer game released in the early 2000’s was for a long time regarded as the only third installment that we would get.

All that changed in 2015. A new Ghostbusters film was finally confirmed, this time with an all new cast. The social media platforms exploded when it was announced that the film would be female lead and the hatred that Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon got was unacceptable and totally uncalled for. I’ve always held the belief that the cast of any film are the last to blame for a film’s failure.

Despite what I’m sure were the casts and crews best efforts, the 2016 Ghostbusters film flopped. Not because of it being female lead, not because of studio interference or poor direction, but because it was the one thing we did not want.

A remake.

As the uproar of Ghostbusters 2016 died down, I and a lot of other people seemed to resign ourselves to the belief that that was it. That 2016 was our last hope for Ghostbusters returning. If I’m honest I was ok with that, I still had two great movies to enjoy and the one saving grace of GB2016 was that it wasn’t attached to the two originals, leaving their legacy untouched and untarnished.

It must have been 2019 sometime when a short trailer dropped on YouTube. Released by Jason Reitman (son of original director Ivan) with the tag line “I found the car” the trailer showed a old and beaten up Ecto 1 covered up in a barn. I can’t tell you how happy I was. It was like Christmas!

My excitement only grew when it was revealed that a new Ghostbusters film was being made, it was a genuine sequel and that it was being directed by a Reitman.

Ghostbusters was back in the family!!

We had some Covid related set backs, mainly that the film was delayed at least three times, but in November 2021 Ghostbusters : Afterlife was released in cinemas.

By now we’ve all seen it so I won’t go into the story, but I will say that I think it was as good as it ever could be. Jason Reitman was clever enough to put enough in there for us old enough to remember Ghostbusters first time around and to include enough to capture a new, younger audience.

Cynics will say there was maybe a bit too much fan service and on some counts I agree, but that didn’t spoil anything for me. Appointing a young cast was smart by Reitman, especially on the back of things like Stranger Things and IT. McKenna Grace especially shone as Phoebe Spengler.

A sequel is strongly hinted at the end of the film and if rumors are to be believed it’s already been given the green light. A follow up will be the real test for the franchise. They won’t be able to get away with so much nostalgia and fan service a second time around, but I have hope that Reitman and his young cast will be ok. I have a feeling we could finally see some aspects of Akroyds now legendary third script.

I for one can’t wait to see where this crazy relationship takes me next, I just hope it’s not another 30+ years before I find out!!!