Capsule Film Review: Ghostbusters (2016)

1984 comedy Ghostbusters remained one of the most successful and best remembered products of 1980s Hollywood, despite poor 1989 sequel and probably because failure to make a third film in the series. 2016 remake created a lot of controversy (and free publicity) due to decision to have old/new protagonists with changed genders. Film directed and co-written by Paul Feig more or less follows the plot of the original – three New York scientists (played by Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy and Kate McKinnon) are fired and decide to use their paranormal expertise by starting ghost extermination business; they are joined by African American recruit (played by Olam Jones) before all four of them have to rescue the city and the world from apocalyptic supernatural invasion from another dimension. Although well-acted at times (especially by very talented McKinnon and Chris Hemsworth in the role of air-headed hunk), new Ghostbusters suffers from lack of originality, poor script and tendency to compensate lack of proper jokes with ultimately boring and pointless displays of CGI.

RATING: 4/10