by Haley Mitchell, managing editor
In what some would call the most blasphemous adaptation of any movie… ever… Ghostbusters premiered last night with dramatic fan response.
Operating on the presumption that you’ve seen the original, Ghostbusters starts pretty much the same as its predecessor. Three scientists get a call about an unexplainable apparition, go to investigate, discover something incredibly unbelievable, develop the technology to apprehend ghosts and prove the haters wrong. This new and improved version, however, lacks the classic Zuul-in-the-fridge, eggs-cooking-on-the-countertop type hoaxes that made the original feel a little more authentic. Some rando as the villain gets added into the mix and voila, you have a new Ghostbusters.
Paul Feig’s adaptation of the 1984 classic has also been heralded by many as an abomination for its controversial casting of four women in the originally male roles, though their number, race and character’s professions are where the similarities end. The leading ladies in this film all have strong comedy backgrounds and promising careers ahead of them, and each character was tailored to their distinct comedy styles; Kristen Wiig with her cringy did-she-really-say-that humor, Leslie Jones’ impeccable timing and line delivery, Kate McKinnon’s quirkier bits and Melissa McCarthy’s smart one-liners.
All bring something to the table, but Jones and McKinnon’s back-burner characters actually may be the saving grace of this movie. Wiig and McCarthey are smart and funny, but writers failed to leave anything to the audience’s imagination or interpretation. Every step involved in getting from point A to point B is meticulously described, and it’s mostly unnecessary. The result is very dry dialogue from Wiig and McCarthey, with Jones and McKinnon peppering scenes with their unyielding energy.
Chris Hemsworth’s performance as the Ghostbusters’ dim-witted but beef-cakey secretary was a pleasant surprise. Whether the writing for his character was particularly strong or he’s just good at delivering lines is debatable, but either way Hemsworth is funny, or maybe even hilarious.
What this flick lacks in its creative writing is made up for in its attempt at action sequences. When you think about it, the original Ghostbusters relied mostly on clever plot revelations and Bill Murray. The more current version contains several fight scenes that may not be the most complicated but are pretty substantial and at least cool to watch.
This film was not unsuccessful in its attempt to successfully adapt a cult classic, but die-hard fans of the original will be left unsatisfied. Paul Feig’s nods to the prime in addition to cameos from 1984 cast members make for gratifying moments in the movie, but not enough to make the plot feel carbon copied. There are, however, enough imbalances between the two to make viewers conflicted on their feelings on the whole thing.
Did I like it? Enough to recommend it.
