Nostalgia. An ingredient used by filmmakers when rebooting a franchise, hoping to sweeten the aftertaste for fans who might see it as a shameless cash grab or a cheap knock-off that’s trying to recapture the spirit of the original. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire weaves its way through those waves of cynicism and imparts a warm glow into both the hearts of longtime fans and even those encountering the franchise for the first time.
Frozen Empire opens with us catching up with the Spengler family (and Paul Rudd’s Gary Grooberson – he’s not officially a part of the family just yet) two years after their Ghostbusting escapades in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. This time the big bad is a Stone Age ice monster called Garraka who is threatening to end the world as we know it.
The movie differs slightly in its pacing compared to its predecessors as it takes some time to set the stage, which many first-time fans would appreciate as they embark on their Ghostbusting journey. It isn’t so much an “info dump” per se, but a semi-organic way of informing the audience about all the changes that have taken place in this wild, ghost-filled universe, as well as filling in what the Spengler family have been up to since we last saw them.
Director Gil Kenan shows remarkable finesse and understanding of Ghostbusters lore and successfully crafts a film that celebrates the nostalgia of the past, while simultaneously infusing the franchise with new characters and ideas that world build an exciting path into the future.
Mckenna Grace as Pheobe Spengler once again proves why she is the indispensable heart of these requels. Her performance is utterly magnetic, bringing about a much needed balance to the overall comedic tone of the movie.
Dan Ackroyd, Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson are more than just a “blast from the past.” They are integral to this new story and put a cheeky grin on the faces of fans by just showing up and being a part of the framework of the Ghostbusting world that the Spengler family operate in.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire delivers on its promises and then some. It’s a family film that’s perfect for a movie night out. There’s enough humour, and scares, and fan service to keep all four moviegoing quadrants happy.
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