Review of Ghostbusters (2016) by Haneef A — 23 Mar 2017

Ghostbusters (2016) directed by Paul Feig and starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon.

Watch this if you like: Paul Feig and McCarthy's movie collaborations (Bridesmaid, Heat, Spy), Scooby Doo movies.

It is a good and technically competent movie, but it could have been so much better.

It is a reboot of the old 1984 Ghostbusters movie, about 4 women banding together and fighting ghosts with their scientific equipment in New York.

The chemistry between the four leads are great and engaging, and it is refreshing to see a movie which portrays women as the strong and main characters.

The graphics are ok, but it is intentionally campy, similar to the graphics in the Scooby Doo movies, so some people might hate it.

I find the comedy to be adequate with some laugh-out-loud moments, but the comedy is a bit uneven and too improvisational and flat at times. My theatre buddies only chuckled here and there.

The plot is sadly too simple, the villain is kinda cliched, and for a movie which puts women in a strong light (laudable since so many movies are too men-centric)...the movie portrays all male characters as dumb/egotistical..so some people might not agree with this.

Overall, Ghostbusters is a good movie, but I can't help but expecting a more excellent movie because of the talents assembled here.

A missed opportunity.

A B-.