Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is a very hilariously fun and at times quirky nostalgic film. That if you are a fan of the previous Ghostbusters films and the very popular late 80’s to early 90’s animated series, The Real Ghostbusters, you will thoroughly enjoy.
A sequel to 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife that takes place two year’s after the events of that film. The surviving members of the Spengler family have moved from Summerville, Oklahoma right back to where everything started at the iconic New York City firehouse. With former Ghostbuster, Dr. Winston Zeddemore, now a billionaire, who bought the house and is helping fund research at a top-secret-facility for how to take busting ghosts to the next level! While the new Ghostbusters, Gary Grooberson, Callie, Trevor and Phoebe Spengler are now living there and taking on ghosts for the new generation. Even bringing on new technologies such as drone traps. That from one of the first scenes of the new film ensues like the original Ghostbusters several buildings being destroyed while trying to catch ghosts and in one of several nods to the original films upcoming 40th anniversary that the film is also part celebration of. A meeting with former DEA inspector foe, Walter Peck, who is now the city’s mayor and scolding the new team, but mainly Phoebe, for being a minor and all the violations they have invoked. That leads to her being benched for the time being from being a Ghostbuster and also puts a dent into the new group trying to figure out the balance between being a family and Ghostbusters.
In between all this time an ancient old brass orb is brought to the now retired Dr. Ray Stantz, who from his bookshop is now doing an online YouTube show with Podcast where he tries to determine if everyday objects are haunted or just useless regularly house item’s. The artifact brought by Nadeem Razmaadi, who is a useless loser type character that everyone counts out and is just trying to sell off all his recently deceased grandma’s old relics to survive. Nadeem so brilliantly played by comedian and actor, Kumail Nanjiani, who doesn’t know that the orb is a jail for an ancient evil force that when released could bring on a second Ice Age, if Ghostbusters, both old and new aren’t able to stop it after joining forces. Ray along with Phoebe and her BFF, Podcast, heading to the New York City Library to reach out to paranormal librarian Dr. Hubert Wartzki, to find out more about this ancient evil force that we learn is, Garraka. Where we not only find out more by going to the now underground and hidden old part of the library, but in another nod to the original Ghostbusters film, we find Ray seeing the ghost Librarian, that hilariously practically scares him to death in the original film. This leading to Ray wanting to bring in another old friend, Dr. Peter Venkman to examine Nadeem, to see if he is possessed and/or has any special powers. To which we learn like Dana Gordon being the key master in the original film. That Nadeem is the fire master and unlikely key to stopping the ancient evil power in this new film.
Emily Alyn Lind, who many may remember from playing the very vengeful Audrey Hope, in the HBO Max original series, Gossip Girl. Is another of several new characters, who plays a teenage ghost named, Melody, that Phoebe befriends after she sneaks away to Central Park to play chess with after she got in trouble. With Melody being stuck in this dimension and having trouble going with her family to the other side we all go after we die. Both of them being lonely and misunderstood and how they become an odd pair of friends. That end up being two very key parts to the plot of the movie.
If you enjoy nostalgia then you will like that not only is the great Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson back as Dr. Venkman, Dr. Stantz and Dr. Zeddemore, but also have somewhat bigger roles than did in Afterlife. Plus that Annie Potts is back as Janine Melnitz and for the first time in a suit, helping bust ghosts! You also can’t forget having Slimer back and the mini Stay Pufts, who have several hilarious scenes throughout the movie that will have you laughing historically like me and much of the audience in attendance at the Chicago screening were. From I am sure a lot of those comedy bits being reminders of not only the original film, but also, The Real Ghostbusters, animated series, which Nanjiana, said director Gil Kenan, took a lot of cues and inspiration from. The bit with Trevor even getting slimmed by Slimer in the firehouse attic the same way that Dr. Venkman did in the hotel room not only a small nod to the original film, but one of several scenes throughout the film that felt like it could have been straight out of, The Real Ghostbusters.
Overall, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, is a very hilariously fun and nostalgic film with plenty of quirky great comedy and supernatural lore. That you should not only see to see if the Ghostbusters, once again save the day, but also cause it truly is a must-see really good time. That also truly pays homage to the historic franchise’s nearly 40 year history and Ghostbusters fans both, new and old will really enjoy! Which is why you should be sure to see when the film hits theaters this Friday, March 22nd.