Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is all about family at its core, but it delivers an entertaining story with humor that always hits and a great villain.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire does a wonderful job of bringing the nostalgia from the earlier Ghostbusters films, while still delivering on something new and exciting. This movie might be a tad too long, but it is a whole lot of fun. The story itself is intriguing with a stellar villain that looks fantastic and is terrifying at times. When it comes to the heart of the film, that is the Spangler family, which fits in perfectly.
Frozen Empire takes place in New York City as the new Ghostbusters are headquartered at the old fire station from the first films of the franchise. This will immediately give longtime fans waves of nostalgia, but don’t worry, this movie isn’t just Easter eggs. The new and old teams have joined forces after the discovery of an ancient artifact that houses something that is pure evil, and prepared to bring the second Ice Age to Earth.
The story itself starts off interesting enough, but then it is slow to build during the first act. It takes quite a while to get where it is going, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a fun ride. The humor really hits in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Over and over audiences will be cracking up.
Things certainly could have been tighter, and the film could have been cut down by fifteen or twenty minutes, but it really is a fun time.
Parents be warned, however, there is a moment where sex jokes are delivered one right after the other. They are absolutely hilarious, but if your child doesn’t know what it is, maybe think twice about bringing them to the theaters.
The visuals effects were great in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and yet they get even better in Frozen Empire. There isn’t a moment where they don’t look good. It is exciting to have Slimer back on the big screen, and he looks great, but of course, we could have used some more of him. Which always seems to be the case.
Fans will also likely think we could have used more Bill Murray, although we get Dan Ackroyd as a major part of the plot, which is very exciting. When it comes to the look of the villain, he is quite terrifying. His design is something that feels unique while still fitting into the world of the Ghostbusters.
Speaking of fitting into the world of Ghostbusters, Kumail Nanjiani is a wonderful addition to the cast. Not only does he have perfect comedic timing, his role in the story is unforgettable. We can’t dive too much into it because of spoilers, but just know that he is sure to be a fan favorite.
The Spengler family is at the heart of the plot of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. This was established in Afterlife, but is very much expanded on in Frozen Empire. Paul Rudd is always funny, but he has a few emotional beats in this one as well. McKenna Grace is the main focus of the movie, and her moments are important to the story and the outcome, however they do sometimes feel forced in order to hit certain key story beats.
Overall, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is a whole lot of fun. The comedy hits, there are some great actin sequences, and it feels like a great blend of the past and the present. The plot is entertaining, even if it is quite predictable, and the villain is what really drives everything home.
This movie is filled with heart, as the family dynamics are at the center of it all. There are great special effects and some very awesome looking ghosts. It can be a bit too much for little ones at times, due to the scary creatures and the sex themed jokes, but it doesn’t ever push things too far.
We aren’t sure if there is going to be another Ghostbusters, but one thing is for sure, if there is, we will be seated for it.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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About Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family returns to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level.
But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an army of ghosts that casts a death chill upon the city, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire comes to theaters March 22nd.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.