MOVIE TITLE: Ghostbusters
DIRECTOR: Paul Feig
YEAR: 2016
GENRE: Supernatural Comedy
RATING: PG-13 for language and violence
GRADE: Pass
Dr. Erin Gilbert is a university professor who used to
tinker with supernatural experiments as a child, but no longer believes in
ghosts as an adult. When she investigates a haunted house disturbance alongside
her childhood friend Abby Yates and her partner Jillian Holtzmann, Erin ’s fascination with the paranormal is rekindled once
more. The team adds subway clerk Patty Tolan and goofy assistant Kevin Beckman
to their camp and they become The Ghostbusters. Despite public backlash and
skepticism, the Ghostbusters continue to track down ghosts and demons in the
streets of New York City
using energy weapons and containment shells.
The elephant in the room with this movie is the all-female
protagonist cast, which has generated an unfair amount of criticism from
misogynists and fans of the original Ghostbusters movies from the 80’s. The
last time I heard that much whining, I was babysitting puppies. What’s so bad
about having strong female characters? Why must all badass women run around in
bikinis and have fast romances with hunky men? The Ghostbusters don’t fit any
female stereotype and they’re not sexualized in any way. They’re just everyday
women that you would see on the street…except for the fact that they shoot
nuclear lasers at ghosts and laugh in their doubters’ faces throughout the
movie. In the end, if they can save New
York City from being overrun by monsters and demons,
they’ve got my support no matter what. Keep up the good work, ladies!
In addition to having strong female characters that destroy
obstacles and defy gender roles in convincing fashion, you’ve also got a main
villain who many people can identify with despite his evilness. His name is
Rowan North and he’s the one who’s been unleashing a horde of monsters on
everyone in sight. He is so awkward and weird that nobody wants to even be
within ten feet of him. If you’ve ever been labeled as a weirdo during your
younger years, you know how much pain this man is in. Hell, there are times
when my own awkwardness gets in the way of personal progress. While Rowan’s
anger toward a cruel and unfeeling world is understandable, never forget that
he is a villain and his weapon of choice could destroy an entire city, maybe
even the whole world. Would it kill anybody to give this guy a hug? Hell, even
Erin Gilbert and Abby Yates could identify with Rowan!
Now that I think about it, there aren’t very many characters
in this movie that are dislikable. The monsters are brutal and violent, the
humans are quirky and humorous in their own way, and there are even actors from
the 80’s Ghostbusters movies that reappear, although as completely different
characters. The minute Bill Murray’s face popped up on the screen, the entire
movie theater erupted with laughter. When even more actors like Sigourney
Weaver and Dan Akroyd appeared in the movie, there was laughter and cheering
mixed into one sweet package. This blending of old school and new will create a
lot of cheerful and hilarious moments, crude insults and dark jokes included.
With this kooky cast of characters all in one movie, you’d
be hard pressed to find a single sorrowful moment in the whole film. Since when
did positivity and fun-filled entertainment become things to scoff at? Is all
of this harsh criticism really about the main cast consisting mostly of women? Do
you really need a sandwich that badly? Then for god’s sake, go to Subway and
shell out five dollars for a foot-long! Heaven forbid that women find their own
source of strength and shatter the glass ceiling into snowflakes. Ghostbusters
has earned a passing grade from me not just for the fast-paced action or the
silly jokes, but also for being a model for progressive change. Nothing stays
the same forever, not even hate.
