With any franchise that manages to overstay it’s welcome, those films are bound to have diminishing returns. There is only so much you can mine from preexisting lore and milk from the nostalgia well before it can no longer hide its cash grab overtones. “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” felt the most balanced of the two; a beautiful send off to the older generation and a welcomed ushering of the new. This can be attributed to the generational passing of directors, with a son taking up a father’s mantle which simply by default maintains a certain reverence for its source.
“Frozen Empire” lacks that deep rooted empathy and care for its story and characters, opting for the bigger, badder, and meaningless nostalgia instead of a story that matters. There is fun to be had, and to say that this latest entry is completely soulless would be unfair to those who are trying their best to hold on to the best parts of busting ghosts. But that fun is overshadowed by an overstuffed cast, a convoluted narrative, and connective tissue that hold the film back instead of enhance the experience.
Written and directed by Gil Kenan and co-written by Jason Reitman, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” once again follows the Spengler family as the leave their humble countryside for New York, back to where ghostbusting all began. After discovering a top secret paranormal laboratory developed by Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson), they come across an ancient artifact that seems to be able to command the ghosts nearby. Unable to identify the object, the team (old and new) search for answers, only to inadvertently unleash an ice god bent on the total destruction of the human race. It will take everyone, the old and the new and the new new to take down this god and save the world once again. “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” sees the return of Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Celeste O’Connor, and Logan Lam as well as the original crew including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Annie Potts and William Atherton. It also adds new cast members including James Acaster, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswald, and Emily Alyn Lind.
Even on paper, the cast list for “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” feels exhausting, and it functions as so as much in the film as it does to write out the very long list. It seems a disservice to the new cast we just met and poised to take over the franchise to be shuffled off to the sidelines in lieu of cramming as many familiar faces as we possibly can and adding a plethora of new characters who only serve the basic of purposes. That is: recognition, plot, and exposition. Kenan may have served as co-writer for “Afterlife,” but it is clear he does not have the confidence nor vision of a Reitman, and the experience and crafting is instantly obvious. “Frozen Empire” feels like a relay race where the old and present refuse to let go of the baton instead of allowing the future to run with their own story. In it’s effort to be everything to everyone, it forgets to be something of itself.
It’s unfortunate, because the first hour doesn’t feel this way. We are thrust into the ghostbusting of the Spenglers and entangled in their familial drama and delightful interactions, which actually feel focused and purposeful. Even some of the new character drips don’t feel overstuffed yet, as the characters from “Afterlife” are rightfully center stage. When it shifts, though, it shifts hard. It quickly devolves into a clamor of ideas that spiral out into as many directions as the ice god sends across the New York City streets.
It no longer becomes cheerful to see Ray and Venkman and Peck (complete misuse and ridiculous inclusion) and becomes increasingly more eye rolling and exhausting. I will always give an extra star to anyone who adds James Acaster to their film, but the bloated cast is dizzying and seeing 10 proton packs at a time isn’t nearly as cool or fun as you think it might be. Everything collides as if Kenan got past the introduction act and had so many conflicting ideas he decided to see all of them through instead of focusing them into a finale that makes sense.
I know these are really harsh words, and if you’ve made it this far you’re probably ready to call me a grumpy old man who doesn’t like fun things. While that would be true in most cases, I did find myself laughing and enjoying plenty of moments throughout the film. Rudd is as charming as ever even when he’s cast aside for large chunks of the film. Grace is forced to take a backseat for narrative’s sake, but still embodies the kind of troubled likability and genius that made her so enduring in “Afterlife.” Nanjiani is, well, Nanjiani and it works for the most part. Acaster isn’t used enough, Oswald is always a joy, and most of the OG cast (though brief) seem to be enjoying themselves. None of the faults lie with the performers, who all seem genuinely thrilled to be a part of a “Ghostbusters” movie.
To say “Frozen Empire” is completely soulless, the way Netflix star studded flops are, would be an unfair criticism.
But despite its momentary glimpses of promise, “Frozen Empire” is still a rather weak franchise entry. One that leaves you with nothing and no one to remember. I can’t even give you the name of the big bad ice god villain without googling it, and that’s a far cry from the instantly recognizable Gozer. “Afterlife” has moments of promise but simply can’t break free from its trap of meaningless nostaglia grabs and crowded cast. There are just too many proton packs in the firehouse and way too many streams getting crossed.
Bustin’ still makes me feel good, I just wish I didn’t need Paul Rudd to remind me.
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
“Ghostbuster Frozen Empire” is now playing in theaters. You can watch the trailer below.
