If you have been anywhere near a movie theatre or watched any sort of entertainment news in the last few months, you are aware of the phenomenon that is the new "Ghostbusters" reboot. While reviews have been mixed, with the number of praising reviews about equal to the scathing ones, I found this new take on the 1984 classic to not only be refreshing, but also extremely important from a feminist standpoint.
Before I begin my (mostly spoiler-free) analysis of the film, let me just state that I identify as a feminist in every way. I believe that women and men are equal, and that misogyny is so ingrained into our culture that it can sometimes be difficult to recognize these toxic ideas, especially when it comes to topics such as gender norms and expectations.
When I saw the previews for the upcoming film, I had a few concerns. I was worried that the film would be annoying with the fact that the four Ghostbusters are all women; I thought there would be a feeling of "Look! We're using women, so that means that we're being progressive and diverse!" I was also worried that the comedy and storyline would take a backseat to the special effects, as the unique humor and clever plot is what made the original film so iconic. I was pleasantly surprised when I first saw the movie last week.
One of the main reasons that the film is so amazing is the casting of the four new Ghostbusters, Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wigg), Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy), Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon), and Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones). Unlike my earlier concerns, these women were seamlessly integrated into this world of supernatural science, and there were never any comments made to suggest that it was surprising to see women scientists on screen without having jokes thrown at them. This is not to say that these women did not throw jokes around. The humor in this movie is equally as hilarious as the original and had the entire auditorium laughing out loud countless times. Casting these four comedic actresses was the perfect decision, and they worked as the perfect team on screen.
Another wonderful thing I noticed about these characters was how human they all were. Even these incredibly intelligent women had moments of stupidity, and I found it to be incredibly relatable. They had moments where things did not go as expected when testing their gadgets, and they had moments where they thought that windows were sliding glass doors. Watching these women who are portrayed as being so smart, screw-ups and all, and seeing them save the world was refreshing.
One of the most refreshing things I think I have ever seen in cinema I found in the character Holtzmann. It was announced through interviews with McKinnon and the director, Paul Fieg, that Holtzmann is a lesbian character, despite the studio's insistence that they keep this detail on the down low. Nevertheless, Holtzmann openly flirted with all of the other Ghostbusters, particularly Erin, onscreen. While her flirting was obvious to nearly anyone, this fact was never addressed, and no one ever acted as if her behavior were something to be commented on, just as Erin flirting with Chris Hemsworth's character was never addressed. This lack of acknowledgment was very progressive to me as you rarely see a character that identifies as LGBT+ without a big fuss being made. With Holtzmann, it was just another part of her well-rounded personality.
Overall though, my absolute favorite scene in the entire movie was the classic fight scene where the Ghostbusters fought a myriad of different spirits. This is a scene that we have all witnessed in any sort of action movie, and the scene where we see our heroes triumph through the battle. This scene, however, was even more enjoyable to me because of these four incredible women, specifically McKinnon. Throughout the film, Holtzmann assumes the role of the "demolition man" type character that we find in today's action films, and this huge battle scene gave her a chance to shine. In a moment of glory, taking on countless ghosts by herself with her "new toys," we witness Holtzmann kick ass without making a fuss over the fact that she is, in fact, a woman.
The new "Ghostbusters" film is giving young girls and boys a chance to see that women can save the world. That women can be scientists. That women can be funny. That women can carry an action movie without any man's assistance on screen. Ghostbusters is breaking ground for women in both comedy and action films, and I am so excited to see where we will take this.
