BY CHRISTOPHER STAMM
GUEST MOVIE REVIEWER

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (now playing in theatres)
Rated PG-13 – for language and a jump scare or two

Growing up in the 80’s, I was lucky enough to see many classic films come to the screen, many of which Hollywierd has tried to reboot for a new generation (and let’s be honest, a fat payday since they seem to be out of ideas over there on the west coast). That includes Ghostbusters. After the disaster that was the 2016 attempted reboot of that iconic film, I was sure we would never see the Ghostbusters back in action.

So when I found out they were going to take another stab at it, let’s say I was less that enthused. Delayed for almost 18 months, Ghostbusters: Afterlife hit cinema screens on Friday Nov. 19, and I am here to tell you they got it right.
Picking up 32 years after Ghostbusters 2, this third part … yes, third part, continues the story following Dr. Egon Spengler’s grandchildren, specifically his granddaughter, Phoebe. Phoebe is a science prodigy, played perfectly by a real up-and-coming actress, Mckenna Grace (Young Sheldon). Along for the ride with her, as she investigates strange goings on at her grandfather’s farm which her mother inherited, is her new friend, Podcast; her teacher, Mr. Grooberson, played by the always good Paul Rudd; and her older brother.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife does what the 2016 attempted reboot failed to do. It captures the magic of the first film. Borrowing heavily from that film’s writer and star, Harold Ramis, Jason Reitman (son of Ivan Reitman, the first film’s director) pulls off the impossible. He made a part three to the Ghostbusters franchise that did not make me want to gouge out my own eyes as the 2016 abomination did.

This is one the entire family can go see. The kids and teens will enjoy the comedy, action, and story, and we adults will view this film with a sense of nostalgia that few films manage to capture anymore. And I am here to tell you that when the Ghostbusters theme song started to play, every adult in the Cosmo Theatre smiled and bobbed their head along with that song we all remember and still love to sing along with. So the question is, when you head out to see this film, who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!

Five out of five stars for this one, folks – for its ability to capture the magic we survivors of the 80’s remember all so well.