The Super Powered Fancast

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Columbia Pictures

Written by Gil Kenan, Jason Reitman and Ivan Reitman

Directed by Gil Kenan

Starring Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Celeste O’Connor, Logan Kim, Emily Alyn Lind, James Acaster, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Annie Potts

Rated PG-13

When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire brings the action and adventure back to New York as it begins with a scene that links directly to a location fans of the world of this movie know. The scene does a fantastic job of setting up the stakes and history to be uncovered throughout the film and has some genuine scares in it as well.

The movie brings back the cast of Afterlife with the Spenglers and Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd) taking over the old firehouse and reclaiming the mantle of Ghostbusters. Unfortunately, their actions in the city to stop ghosts run into both political and technological limitations with the return of GB nemesis Walter Peck (William Atherton) still intent on shutting them down for good and the ghost containment system getting too full of restless spirits.

Writers Gil Kenan, Jason Reitman and Ivan Reitman do a fantastic job of melding the worlds of the previous Ghostbusters adventures and this new one together while also exploring themes of family and legacy. Rudd and Carrie Coon do a great job together as Coon’s Callie Spengler has embraced the life of being a Ghostbuster while Gary adjusts to being a pseudo-stepfather to Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace). Him struggling to support Callie while also trying to be the “cool dad” is fun to see.

Beyond the family dynamics, there are some entertaining new characters joining the old ones and their introductions offer a great way to bring the original Ghostbusters back into the fold organically. The original cast returns to deal with not only the big bad but their own issues with their individual legacies. There are also some fun cameos in the film as well as returns to familiar locations. The action is great and there is a wonderful sense of danger and tension throughout the film that balances the comedy and drama.

Frozen Empire isn’t perfect though. There is a character introduced named Melody (Emily Alyn Lind), a teenage ghost who befriends Phoebe and whose motives could not have been more transparent. Lind does a great job and the interactions with Phoebe are entertaining, but I found myself frustrated that the smartest member of this group was so easily manipulated. Trevor really didn’t have much of a story or purpose beyond wanting to drive the car and his relationship with Lucky (Celeste O’Connor) never seemed to evolve. In fact, I can barely remember them having any screen time together.

The big bad in the film is amazing and definitely reminds me both in motivation and physicality to the darker threats from the animated series which I enjoyed immensely. The character ups the stakes for Ghostbusters new and old as well as the world itself. The fight against this threat has some of the best tension and suspense throughout the film and was fun to watch, especially in relation to where the film’s climax takes place.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is a wonderful sequel and evolution to Afterlife as well as a great way to expand the world of the Ghostbusters for original and new fans alike. I saw this film with my two kids (10 and 17) and they both found things to love throughout it. If you’re a fan of this world and these characters, I definitely recommend it as a fun and entertaining film experience.