Ghosbusters

Movie Name: Ghostbusters
Year of Release: 2016

Director: Paul Feig

Stars: Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, Chris Hemsworth, Ed Begley Jr., Karan Soni, Charles Dance, Neil Casey, Andy Garcia, Katie Dippold, Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Matt Walsh, Michael Kenneth Williams, Annie Potts, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson

Genre: Adventure, Comedy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6
Trailer

Synopsis:

Paul Feig's winning streak continues, with his update of the celebrated Ivan Reitman film, "Ghostbusters". The film follows the story of two childhood friends, Erin Gilbert and Abby Yates, who both went their separate ways after writing a joint book on the paranormal. Erin is currently trying to get tenure at Columbia while Abby is continuing to do research on the paranormal in a lesser known University. A series of paranormal events brings them together, alongside the expert physicist Jillian and Patty, who used to work in the subway system. Jointly they create the Ghosbusters venture, in order to investigate the paranormal events that are happening throughout the entire city.
Paul Feig is a director who smartly captures the interactions between his comedic actors, and therein lies the strength of his features. "Ghostbusters" is a perfect example of that - even if the film lacks an effective villain (one that actually has a real motivation), the film lives by the relationship between the main characters in the group, and they all get a chance to shine. The rapport between the actresses elevates the general tone of the film, that becomes quite distinct from the original. Kristen Wiig in particular is fantastic, making her character Erin, the brainy yet awkward scientist who is reluctant in tackling the paranormal investigation, but then fully embraces it. The film tramples a bit when it relies heavily on visual effects (particularly in the final act), but there's such a sense of joy and complicity between the cast that it makes these elements easily tolerable. This is a film that doesn't take itself seriously, and though inspired by an iconic legacy, trails a path of its own. Worth watching.