Ghostbusters Review

The movie is hilarious and it’s busting more than ghosts.

First of all, is it a remake? I was a little afraid of seeing funny women doing Ramis-Murray-Aykroyd impressions. But they didn’t. Then again, if they didn’t call it a remake, people would definitely notice similarities and call it stealing. It’s about scientists bustin’ ghosts in New York, has Slimer, and the same movie title and theme song of the original.

Luckily it’s its own thing.

This is a story of four women who ban together to catch ghosts and save humanity. Kristen Wiig is Erin, a serious Physics professor whose career is in jeopardy because her former partner Abby (McCarthy) re-released their paranormal book on Amazon. She asks her to take it down and gets sucked into the world of Abby and Holtzmann (McKinnon) who are obsessed with finding ghosts. Then they find one, and it’s on. Meanwhile, Patty (Leslie Jones) works in the subway until she comes across a ghost, seeks out the ghostbusters, and then sticks with them.

Here’s 6 things I like about the new Ghostbusters:

1. This movie has new themes. Kristen Wiig’s Erin doesn’t belong in stuffy academia but that’s where she’s seeking validation. Leslie Jones’ Patty doesn’t belong behind glass, underground in a subway, ignored. She has value. Abby and Holtzmann shouldn’t be treated as crazy ghost chasers they’re actually gifted scientists. On an emotional level, this movie is about finding where you belong, where you’re validated and useful. It’s about finding your tribe.

2. This movie kicks ass. You know what Melissa McCarthy has become since Bridesmaids? Tom Cruise. With this, Heat and Spy, she’s on her way.

3. This movie passes the Bechdal test where women talk about something other than a man. Here women are talking science, and possibly too much. Even Bridesmaids was about fighting with friends and wanting a man. Here, they’re catching ghosts, not men.

4. There’s no shaming. There’s no body-shaming, slut-shaming, fat jokes, age jokes, or gay jokes. No woman compares herself to another woman and feels less-than, no woman puts another woman down or steals a man. No man compares women to each other or steals one or gets stolen. You know how many movies with women you see this stuff? All of them.

5. The women are strong, smart and determined. With respect to Ric Meyers who said there were times they should have been scared and screaming, I disagree. They’ve spent years studying ghosts, why would they run or scream when they saw one? The way I experienced it, they were pumped. They get off on the adrenaline high. And they’re not scared because seeing a ghost means they’re validated. Women are more afraid of being invisible and invalidated by society than we are afraid of ghosts.

6.Heroes are for everyone. Fanboy vitriol, I assume, comes from love of the original. They’re being protective. But you know who else loved the original? Us. We did. Girls.

We had the same comedy heroes growing up. Some of mine were Bill Murray in Meatballs and Stripes. Michael Keaton in Mr. Mom and Night Shift. Steve Martin in The Jerk. Bob and Doug McKenzie in Strange Brew. Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop, Trading Places, and 48 Hours. I related to them as funny people and I wanted to be like them. It’s not that I thought I couldn’t because I was female, but I didn’t know exactly how I fit in.

With this movie, it’s clear—Oh, I’m like the main characters. Seeing funny action heroes onscreen who are very similar to you, that’s a game-changer. That’s saying to half the population, “We count. We can do this, too.”

And not only for young women. In these 4 leading ladies – we this message to Women of Color, Women of Age, Women of Curve, Women who love Women.

This movie is non-stop funny and head-to-to entertaining.  Guys can love these girls the way I loved Bill Murray, Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy. And I hope they do.

Great date movie. Great anytime movie. I give this movie all the Kitten Hands.

Laura House