GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE -- Convoluted but Fun Sequel Asks Fans "Whaddya Want?"

Review by Jonathan Berk

There were a lot of mixed feelings about Ghostbusters: Afterlife -- primarily because of all the nostalgia. For some, however, it was exactly what we had been waiting for in terms of a sequel. Yet, the trepidation for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire was palpable. While there are many negatives in this entry of the franchise, it manages to deliver enough of what we love to still answer the call. 
​
After the events of Afterlife, Pheobe (Mckenna Grace) and her family have relocated to New York City and are living in the old firehouse. They are happily busting ghosts in the Big Apple until they cause a little too much damage. Phoebe is the best of the busters but gets benched after the disgruntled mayor discovers her age, only for bigger ghostly machinations to happen in the city. 

The returning cast is mostly great again. Grace is the central character and works perfectly in that role. She is more than equipped to be the lead character of this historically ensemble-driven franchise. Her character development is solid, but they seem to imply some elements rather than fully committing to the idea. 

While Grace is the main protagonist, the ensemble element has only increased. Carrie Coon has a strong grasp of her role as the matriarch who is funny and very lovable. Paul Rudd's charm is on full display, and it's impossible not to love him too.​

Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, and Bill Murray reprise their roles and are having a lot of fun. It's hard not to crack a smile every time they appear on screen. Not all of their characterizations make sense, but it was just great having them back. 
​
Finn Wolfhard, Celeste O'Connor, and Logan Kim are also returning from Afterlife but often seem like an afterthought. Each gets something to do, but so much of their stories feel crammed into other story elements being introduced. Frankly, Lucky and Podcast don't make sense being in New York and are written into the script in a very clunky way. ​

It probably seems like the film is a little bloated, and that would be an accurate read. There are too many story threads the movie is trying to tie together. These threads introduce additional characters played by some comedic powerhouses: Patton Oswalt, James Acaster, and Kumail Nanjiani. While they deliver varying levels of comedy, it adds to the already overwhelming amount of content. 

Many of these characters are relegated to exposition delivery systems to spout nonsense to try to make sense of the film's events. For a comedy about busting ghosts, there is just too much plot. Through the film's early phases, most of the plotting works just fine, but it falls under its weight in the third act. There are moments where the rules of the film and how things work need to be revised. A "ticking clock" element seemingly pauses for characters to complete "quests." It's jarring how noticeably the film puts the brakes on the plot to fix story oversights.  

The story's not all bad, of course, as busting makes us feel good. There are some fun action sequences, witty one-liners, and iconic creatures. Plus, fans of the franchise often remark, like Jack Nicholson's Joker in the 1989 Batman remarked, "Where does he get such wonderful toys?" From the Ecto 1 to the Proton Packs, seeing the old and new equipment is just a joy. 

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is not perfect, but it does move the story and characters forward in meaningful ways. One benefit to this IP-driven property is that it wasn't worried about setting up the next film. Will there be a third? Probably. However, this film is only concerned with telling this movie's story, even if it's a bit unwieldy.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is in theaters everywhere on March 22. 

Rating: 3.5/5