The Stream: Very corny and illogical with huge plot holes.

The Big Screen: The design and visual effects of the Big Bad are great.

The Final Bill: The original Ghostbusters can’t save this sequel from its lame jokes, annoying characters and huge plot holes.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Gil Kenan
Writers: Gil Kenan & Jason Reitman
Stars: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Kumail Nanjiani, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Rating: PG-13 for supernatural action/violence, language and suggestive references.
Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes
Production Companies: Columbia Pictures, BRON Studios, Ghostcorps, Right of Way Films, Sony Pictures Releasing
Platform: In theaters on March 22, 2024
Notable Trailers: The Garfield Movie, Tarot

Who you gonna call, Streamers? Yes, there’s something strange in your neighborhood movie theaters, and it’s Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. It is technically the fifth installment in the Ghostbusters franchise, but actually, the fourth movie in the original universe that included Venkman, Spengler, Ray and Winston.

In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, we pick up in New York after the action of the 2021 movie, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, where we met Dr. Egon Spengler’s daughter and his grandchildren in Oklahoma. Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon), her children Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), and her husband (?) Mr. Grooberson (Paul Rudd) have moved into the original Ghostbusters headquarters and re-instituted busting ghosts in the heart of Manhattan to varying degrees of success. When a sinister force contained within an ancient artifact threatens to unleash a “frozen empire” on New York, Ghostbuster new and old join forces to protect the city and restore Ghostbusters to prominence. Science-y mumbo-jumbo, spectral trickery and sliming hijinks ensue.

The law of diminishing returns applies to this sequel in the Ghostbusters franchise. If you thought that Ghostbusters: Afterlife was boring and sad. Then, you’ll just think Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is silly and lame. I know there’s not a lot of logic to ghost-busting, itself, aside from made up science; but the characters in the movie should do things that make sense. They just don’t, and it is very frustrating. For example, despite that fact that everyone in New York City recognizes that ghosts exist and some terrorize the city and the Ghostbusters have helped to eradicate the city of them, the mayor still threatens to shut them down instead of helping them or regulating their actions. You really have to suspend your disbelief with this one.

Also, the movie is so corny. No lines are funny. Kumail Nanjiani has a supporting part in the movie, and he has some fun moments, but overall, it just very lame. Paul Rudd is too much in ” dad joke” mode and the original Ghostbusters are too schtick-y to actually be funny. The chuckles are very few and far between.

On the good side, the design and visual effects of the Big Bad are excellent. Most of the budget was spent on him and it was money well spent. The other ghosts that show up are reminiscent of the 1980s movies and that’s fine. It’s a family film, so there’s nothing really scary but, for the most part, they look cool.

Ultimately, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire has too many plot holes and lame jokes to be truly enjoyable. The new characters are annoying and useless. It does not live up to its predecessors even with the inclusion of the original cast members. Even though the design and visual effects of some of the ghosts are good, it is not enough to require viewing in the theaters. I say wait for this movie with a handful of popcorn to turn up on a streaming platform.