‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Review: Jason Reitman delivers the best Ghostbusters film since 1984

Channeling the spirit of 80s Amblin films allows Jason Reitman‘s Ghostbusters: Afterlife to succeed as a worthy successor to his father, Ivan Reitman‘s work on the original Ghostbusters films.

Reitman and Gil Kenan‘s script takes its time building up to the ghost-busting fun. Ghostbusters: Afterlife is first and foremost a family drama based on Egon Spangler’s daughter and grandchildren.

Mckenna Grace is wondrous as Phoebe, an uber-intelligent 12-year-old with a passion for science, a dry sense of humor and finds connecting with others to be an obtuse experience. Finn Wolfhard is fine as Phoebe’s older brother Trevor. He’s just doesn’t accomplish much throughout the film. Also, the way he introduces himself his crush by lying is unflattering compared to the way Phoebe embraces who she is throughout the film. Carrie Coon does a great job as Callie, Phoebe and Trevor’s mom. She masks her resentment over her father’s abandonment with an acerbic sense of humor. Callie is more worried about Phoebe in this new town.

Despite her mom’s worries, Phoebe is able to make a couple of friends. Her teacher, Mr. Grooberson, played to irresistibly likable perfection by Paul Rudd, bonds with Phoebe over the weird earthquakes taking place. She also finds a friend in Podcast played by Logan Kim. His podcast focused on conspiracy theories allows for the ghostly explanation behind these earthquakes.

Afterlife has a couple of flaws. Trevor simply isn’t given as much to do as his sister. The transition into the 3rd act is wonky and the villain is as forgettable as all Ghostbusters villains are.

However, the 3rd act is fantastic and features a sweet, unexpectedly moving send-off for the late Harold Ramis that hit me hard. Rob Simonsen‘s score is outstanding as well. The decision to focus on the family and character moments allows Afterlife to succeed and proves there’s plenty of gas to burn in the Ecto-1.

With the overview out of the way, let’s dive deeper into the next generation of Ghostbusters. There may be minor spoilers. Ghost Busters: Afterlife is currently in theaters.

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Amblin Spirit in Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Kids coming to grips with the reality of life while battling the seemingly unexplained turns out to be a winning formula for Afterlife. For Phoebe, her intelligence and unique sense of humor can keep others at arm’s length. Luckily, she’s a great listener and because she’s a scientist at heart she doesn’t just dismiss Podcast’s conspiracy theory. She doesn’t believe in ghosts, but as the evidence begins to build she follow where it leads. It’s subtle, but Reitman does a great job of showing the lost connection Phoebe begins to feel for not knowing her grandfather.

To her mom’s credit, Reitman and Kenan make it clear the lack of relationship between Egon and her children wasn’t her choice.

Trevor doesn’t fair nearly as well. He does make friends and even gets a summer job. However, throughout the film, he doesn’t accomplish anything on his own. All of his accomplishments are either coincidences, pitty or require an assist of some kind. His character isn’t helped by immediately lying about his age to Lucky, the girl he has a crush on. His lie is harmless, but with a sister who shines by always telling the truth, even to herself, it’s tough to root for him. There’s even a moment where she admits to Podcast that she feels a sense of nausea over her mom and Mr. Grooberson’s potential relationship, but she just can’t quite outwardly express those feelings.

Trevor’s storyline is also separated from the earthquakes and supernatural, which also doesn’t help move the story along. Once he and his sister are on the same path or in the same car, then Wolfhard’s charisma as Trevor works better.

Ghostbusting

The film takes its time getting to the proton packs, ghost traps, the Ecto-1’s and other ghostbusting fun. Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a definitive sequel to 1989’s Ghostbusters 2. Although, there are a couple of moments in the film that seem to pretend as if the events in the 1989 film never happened.

Mr. Grooberson serves as Phoebe and Podcast’s connection to 1980’s Ghostbusters shenanigans. He immediately recognizes the ghost trap and helps them begin to unravel the mystery behind these freak earthquakes.

Trevor’s main function on the team is he’s the one working on the Ecto-1. Even in this instance, he receives help in starting the engine from a ghostly source.

This is very much a ghostbusters film in the latter half. There’s a muncher, stay puft marshmallow men and plenty of other surprises.

The OG’s

The original ghostbusters are worked into the film in a fantastic way that supports the story of the film. Dan Aykroyd has the most screentime of the originals and has a rather illuminating scene over the phone with Phoebe that provides a nice narrative thrust in the 2nd act.

I personally enjoyed how Egon was used in the film. There are some lovely family moments where without Egon having to be on screen, you can feel the distance he kept from his family was noble, not selfish or from a lack of caring. The 3rd act crescendos into a lovely tribute for Ramis.

There are plenty of ghostbuster moments teased early in the film that doesn’t work as well. Scenes like cutting away before the ghostbusters logo is revealed on the Ecto-1 is one example of an unnecessary tease.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Final Thoughts

Reitman has crafted the 2nd best Ghostbusters film and succeeded in carving out a potential path forward for the franchise with Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

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