Review – Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Ghostbusters: Afterlife was a surprisingly great addition to a well-loved franchise. Now Sony hopes to cash in on that nostalgia yet again with Frozen Empire. Will this new Ghostbusters film be another unexpected favorite, or will it just become an afterthought?

The discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil that requires the Ghostbusters, both new and old, to join together to save the world. That’s a very brief synopsis of one plotline of the convoluted script that is Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. In between, we also have Gary (Paul Rudd) figuring out if he’s a father or a friend to Callie Spengler’s (Carrie Coon) kids, while Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) feels ostracized by her family as she’s sidelined from ghost-busting. Along the way, there is another plot about the ancient group of protectors who captured the demon god who’s now trying to escape and get his revenge.

This film tries to do too much in a small amount of time, and because of this, the pacing is horrid. The first half drags so much that it starts to lose the audience. Afterlife has the Spengler family come together to bring the Ghostbusters back from the metaphorical dead. Frozen Empire attempts to show the trials and tribulations of taking on the mantle. Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), the heartbeat of both films, is given a more prominent role this time. I genuinely believe she is one of our greatest young talents right now, and every project she’s in tries to showcase that. She’s given a more dramatic storyline that she portrays beautifully. Unfortunately, the writing doesn’t help execute the story. Phoebe is sidelined early on in the film because she’s too young to be on patrol. Along the way, she befriends a ghost, and together, they have some of the movie’s best and most heartfelt scenes. She also spends more time with Dan Aykroyd, and they have fantastic chemistry together as well. Throughout the entire film, she never has an emotional tether to her family. In fact, you can cut out Finn Wolfard’s scenes, and it wouldn’t hurt the plot at all. The same can be said about Carrie Coon, who is supposed to be their mother. And that just doesn’t sit well when this movie is supposed to be about family.

The second half, while amped up, feels out of place. We spent so much time talking about Phoebe being too young and seeing the new Ghostbusters set-up that it takes too long to feature what’s supposed to be the story’s villain. Early on, we see a mysterious orb, but instead of diving right into what it is, they wait until the third act, and then the movie is over before you get to spend time with the big bad.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire balances humor and horror well, but there’s too much story to fully appreciate it. Kumail Nanjiani is a great addition, but he just feels thrown in. There are too many characters, so everyone is underutilized. It hits a lot of nostalgic feelings, but the references aren’t a surprise; you can see the set-up from a mile away. It’s an enjoyable film to watch, but it’s completely forgettable, and you’re left wanting more.