Happily, the kids are very talented McKenna Grace (“Gifted,”
“The Handmaid’s Tale”) And
“Stranger Things” Finn Wolfhard, Egon Spengler’s grandson (originally played by . )
Late Harold Ramis) Aegon has died, leaving a remote farmhouse to his estranged daughter (Carrie Coon), who finds the move timely due to financial reasons.
Moving into place, Phoebe (Grace) and Trevor (Wolford) discover a lot of strange things around town – all those unexplained earthquakes to begin with – and some nifty artifacts among Grandpa’s estate. Phoebe has scientific prowess far beyond her years, while her brother mostly has a crush on one of his new classmates (Celeste O’Connor).
Meanwhile, the mother forms a somewhat unexpected relationship with one of the children’s teachers (
Paul Rudd, seemingly everywhere together), adding an adult component that generates some laughs but clearly rides in the passenger seat for the most part of the film. (Koon is a talented actress, but there’s a bit of “ET” mom syndrome here, where she can’t see all the weirdness she’s having.)
Cleverly, the film (written by Jason Reitman, Dan Aykroyd, and Gil Kennan) establishes a dense mythology connecting this flurry of spectral shenanigans in the 1980s, while adding visual touches recalling the “Ghostbusters” of the past. Including. There are also weird unrelated gags, such as Rudd’s character just entering summer school by playing wildly inappropriate horror movies.
In some cases, the “afterlife” represents a specific exercise in fan service, with some following the bizarre anger thrown by some in response.
female version of the concept Which premiered five years ago. While that film was flawed, the response seemed utterly strange, from “Ghostbusters” to “You ruined my childhood!” raised to an overlapping level of. Flourishing
The elder Reitman serves as a producer on the film, alongside Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson.
film promotion – is not the only link to Reagan-era roots. Still, it’s one of those films that doesn’t so much cross streams as plunge into a deep well of goodwill, hoping to bridge the gap between those who actually saw the original in a theater. Had and kids and grandparents who would hopefully recognize the young hero.
At its best “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” just gets a good time, combining comedy and youthful angst with advanced special effects, while taking a bit longer to get to the good stuff.
Broken into those components, the younger Reitman answers the call to carry on his family legacy, without the kind of spark that would have taken “Afterlife” perfectly to the occasion.
“Ghostbusters: Afterlife” premieres in US theaters on November 19. It has got PG-13 rating.