Jason Reitman picks up the baton from his father Ivan for this reboot of the franchise his dad helped become an 80’s phenomenon.
The 1984 original and it’s 1989 sequel are still considered classics by many, but despite generally positive reviews the 2016 all female reboot from Paul Feig failed to win over fans. So with his father on board as producer, Reitman goes back to the well in an attempt to breathe new life into this once cherished property.
Picking up the story 30 years after Ghostbusters 2, Afterlife follows single mother Callie, and her two children, who relocate to Summerville Oklahoma to begin a new life in the old farmhouse left to them by Callie’s recently deceased father.
But with the town mysteriously shaking on a daily basis, the kids must team with their new teacher Mr Grooberson, to unearth their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the legacy left behind by their grandfather.
With a tone much more in keeping with the originals, Reitman’s reboot leans heavily on nostalgia and utilises the iconic 80’s score to great effect.
With the excellent Carey Coon in the role of Callie and the always charismatic Paul Rudd as teacher Mr Grooberson, the films casting is bang on. Fans of Netflix hit Stranger things will recognise Finn Wolfhard as Callie’s eldest Trevor, whilst McKenna Grace is the star of the show as his younger sister, the studious, yet heroic Phoebe. Her bond with classmate ‘Podcast’ played by Logan Kim and the inquisitive pairs quest for the truth is what drives the film.
In much the same way as The Force Awakens reintroduced Star Wars to a new generation, Afterlife features cameos from the original cast and reuses many of the same plot elements.
The downside is that in his attempt to please the fans, Reitman leaves very little room for fresh ideas of his own.
So, is it an absorbing new spin or another modern rehash? That will depend very much on your fondness for the 80’s films.
Whilst it lacks originality, the film does have an undeniable nostalgic charm which will have many fans exiting the cinema with a grin.
Dedicated to Harold Ramis, co-writer and star of the original films, Afterlife’s finale features a touching tribute to the late actor which will pull on the heart strings of even the most hardened film fan.
With compelling performances from its cast, Afterlife is a heartwarming trip down memory lane for Ghostbusters fans. Delivering an entertaining if rather derivative slice of blockbuster entertainment.
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Paul Steward
@Grittster