While I am typically wary of reboots and remakes (rightly so, since so many of them are total garbage), no matter how hard I try, I just can’t fathom the hate the new "Ghostbusters" movie is receiving before it’s even released. What is everyone so afraid of? What’s the worst that can happen? Is a movie about four funny ladies saving the world from the supernatural really going to forever tarnish a movie about four funny men saving the world from a giant marshmallow? Of course not.
Let’s talk about the original for a moment. It’s iconic! It set a certain standard with its unique style. For its time, the special effects are very good, and a lot of the practical effects still hold up very well. The rapport between the characters was fun and entertaining due to the good on-screen chemistry between the actors and actresses. The style of humor was on the verge of satirical, not taking itself too seriously, while still having enough lasting power and substance to create an enduring canonical world. The story is simple: supernatural activity is on the rise in the 1980s and a group of scientists invest everything into starting a paranormal investigation/eradication service (everyone has three mortgages at 19 percent these days). Little do they realize that their day-to-day work will culminate in a final battle between four ghostbusters and a Sumerian Destructor.
But that was then. I hate to break it to you, I really do, but it’s not 1984 anymore. It’s 2016. Science has advanced. Technology has advanced. I want to hear a new story about how, when supernatural activity starts to spike in the 2010s, a group of scientists team up to take care of the problem. I want to see how 30 years impacts the use of traps, weapons and proton pack technology. I want to know how ghostbusters advertise their services in 2016 (please be an original-movie style, poorly delivered infomercial). I want to see what the advances in special effects will add in intensity and believably, because if you didn’t think the effects in the new trailers were any good, you might need to wipe the slime off of your nostalgia goggles.
Another thing that excites me about the premise of this film is that, while being similar to the original, the new release is going to be just that: new. There will be new characters with new dynamics and a new plot driving these ghostbusters to do what they do. It isn’t a story about Patricia Venkman and her crew versus Gozer the Gozerian. This reboot isn’t meant to stuff the new characters into the old characters’ jumpsuits. They are going to have their own personalities, motivations and rapport.
It’s going to set a different tone, and that might be one reason a lot of people have a problem with the still-unreleased film. However, I beg you to consider this: wouldn’t you rather have a reboot with a new crew doing their own origin story than a remake featuring actors and actresses aping the performances of the original cast? The second option could never work. Classic and irreplaceable, the original "Ghostbusters" movie would lose a lot of its charm if it were ever remade.
In as much as I've seen of their work so far, the main cast does a great job of making me laugh, and I have faith in Paul Feig, director and co-executive producer of more than a dozen episodes of "The Office" (one of my favorite comedy series ever) to do his utmost to make this film a success. Not to get carried away, but even the new song "Ghostbusters (I'm Not Afraid)" by Fall Out Boy, featuring Missy Elliott is giving me confidence. It's an awesome homage to the theme song from the original "Ghostbusters." This movie is in good hands.
I don’t expect my argument will change any opinions, boost ticket sales or change the fact that the first trailer for the new "Ghostbusters" movie is the most disliked movie trailer in YouTube history to date. My goal is only to spread a glimmer of hope that this movie might actually be worth a watch, despite what an overwhelming majority of popular internet opinions might have you think. After all, it can’t be any worse than "Ghostbusters II," right?*
"Ghostbusters" premieres in a theater near you on July 15, 2016. And don't forget to check in next week for my thoughts on the film once it's been released.
*All right, all right! I didn’t hate "Ghostbusters II" or anything, but you have to admit, the first one was definitely better than the sequel.
