Early reviews for Ghostbusters: Afterlife is now available online. Unlike the 2016 reboot, the new movie takes place within the original Ghostbusters universe. Taking place 30 years after the second film, Ghostbusters: Afterlife follows the daughter and grandkids of Egon Spengler. The film has garnered mixed reactions, with some critics claiming that the reboot is a fitting tribute to the original. However, others argue that the new film is simply an opportunistic IP-driven piece of nostalgia filmmaking.
Early Reviews for Ghostbusters: Afterlife Revolve Around Nostalgia
One early review of Ghostbusters: Afterlife from Jesse Hassenger of the AV Club derides the film. In his review, he characterizes it as overly reverent and lacking in comedy. “Ghostbusters: Afterlife, directed and co-written by Jason Reitman, has no particular comedic sensibility at all,” writes Hassenger. “A funny comedy about a group of nerds and slobs has been reshaped into a very different sort of retro-’80s sculpture: a neo-Spielbergian kid adventure, this one with warm sitcom wisecracks and a bad running joke about bad jokes.
Other reviews of Ghostbusters: Afterlife are more optimistic, praising the fun and kid-friendly nature of the film. Johnny Oleksinski of the New York Post praised the film, claiming, “Well, it’s taken 36 years and six presidencies, but with “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” fans finally have an unembarrassing sequel to love.”
Despite Mixed Critical Consensus, Fans Will Likely Enjoy It
While the majority of reviews for Ghostbuster: Afterlife remain positive, many of the positive reviews note that the film relies on fan service and nostalgia more than it needs to. Director Jason Reitman worked to create a script that would hand the franchise to a new generation.
The consensus is that Reitman has created something more in step with his father’s film than the 2016 version. However, many note that the fixation on pleasing the fans prevents the movie from developing into its own thing. Despite reservations from critics, fans will likely enjoy the movie. Ghostbusters: Afterlife will be released in theaters on November 19th. The film currently holds an 86% rating on RottenTomatoes.
