Manager: Gil Kenan
Artists: Mckenna Grace, Paul Ruud, Carrie Coon
Year: 2024
Premiere: 3/22/24
★★★
The final chapter in the Ghostbusters saga from director Gil Kenan, crafted with Jason Reitman, is a tribute to the legacy and to Ivan Reitman, the original guiding force behind the franchise. It opens with a dreamlike, almost spellbound scene set in a snow-bright New York City in 1904, where firefighters enter a blaze and confront a chamber of eerily still, frozen figures. This bold prologue signals a shift toward a more fantastical mood, while still anchoring the film in the comic DNA that fans have come to expect from the series. As the narrative moves forward, the action settles into the present and reunites the survivors of Ghostbusters: Beyond with a new generation of hunters. The ensemble now spans ages more evenly, blending teen energy with grown-up perspective, and while the elder statesmen of the team still loom in the background, their presence is felt in ways that honor the franchise’s heritage. The tone nods to nostalgia but remains firmly rooted in contemporary storytelling, inviting a fresh set of viewers to engage with the familiar toolkit of proton packs and spectral antics. [citation]
On the screen, Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray make guest appearances that echo the series’ origin while boosting the sense of continuity. Murray appears at decisive moments, always ready with the signature proton gun, and Aykroyd’s scenes revolve around a closer look at haunted repossessions. A young ally forms a bond with a translucent blue ghost, resulting in a flurry of trial-and-error moments that keep the film buoyant and funny. Paul Ruud’s character leans into the heart of ownership and responsibility, following a path where a devoted father learns to contend with ectoplasmic disturbances. Unlike the prior installment, which leaned heavily on digitized memories of Harold Ramis, this entry carves its own path, weaving in Kumail Nanjiani as a master of fire who adds a new texture to the team’s dynamic. An otherworldly creature stands ready for battle, with a design and aura that could easily inhabit a Harry Potter universe, underscoring the blend of whimsy and danger that now defines the Ghostbusters’ world. The result is a reinvigorated cadence for the ghost-hunting crew—one that respects the past while inviting bold experimentation in tone and visuals. [citation]