If there's something strange in your neighborhood, it's the new "Ghostbusters" movie, and it rocked. With an all-star cast including famous comedians, SNL cast members and even a few cameos, this movie is in a different league than its 80's predecessor. Despite the similarities between the two -- the hearse, firehouse headquarters, etc. -- the movies functioned on two separate planes with two very different story lines. However, that's not the thing that distinguishes the two most prominently. It is the all-girls team (consisting of Kristen Wigg, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones) that does so.
First, it passes the Bechdel test.
This is something that 32 percent of 2016's top movies can't say and 45 percent of 2015's can't say. To pass the Bechdel test, there are only three criteria: No. 1, have at least two named female characters. No. 2, that talk to each other, No. 3, about something other than a man. It doesn't seem like a hard thing to accomplish, but even the original "Star Wars" trilogy couldn't manage it.
Practically every scene in the new "Ghostbusters" movie passes the test, the only exceptions are when they are talking about the male villain or their hunky secretary, played by Chris Hemsworth. This is most definitely not to say that conversations about men are condemned, just that movies that fail to pass the test make women out to be extensions of men, not their own entity. Funnily enough, the original "Ghostbusters" severely fails the test -- with female characters who never speak a single word to each other.
These women are undeniably bad-ass.
No one says that they can't catch the villain or defeat the ghosts because they are women. No one asks them if they are menstruating (I'm looking at you, Bill Murray). The only naysayers appear as skeptics, not sexists.
All of the women on the team have a doctorate, and if they don't, they are closet historians just as valuable to the mission. They are not objects; they are qualified heroes.
It encourages going after your dreams.
Despite being bullied for their ghost-believing ideals in school, Kristin Wigg and Melissa McCarthy's characters go on to be recognized (albeit, quietly) by the government and overall the rescuers of New York City and the world, quite frankly.
A great focus on the development of the technology is seen in the new movie. Kate McKinnon, the engineer, develops and tests her technology alongside the rest of her ghost-busting team. It's seen to be a process, which is overall inspirational in and of itself.
Little girls (and boys, too) can watch this movie and see that even the most wild dreams they have can be achieved, with hard work, endurance and perseverance.
Women are not the sexual objects.
A humorous twist on the "sexy secretary" is taken when the Ghostbusters hire the only available prospect as the help. As mentioned previously, Chris Hemsworth plays the part. Lacking some areas of common sense, he takes the role usually played by women and executes it perfectly. It is not meant to be taken seriously but rather to offer a look into the roles women play. It is also worth mentioning that one of the two named female characters in the original "Ghostbusters" movie is the secretary.
Even possessed by spirits, the women are not portrayed in a sexual manner, do not dress for the men's pleasure and are not the brunt end of countless sexual jokes (again, Bill Murray), like Sigourney Weaver was. They are normal women who turn out to be vital to the safety of their city.
Finally, some girl heroes.
Granted, some of the team of "Avengers" are women, but none of them have their own movie. "Ghostbusters" gives young girls four strong, intelligent women to look up to. They are all independent and incredibly witty in their own way. There are few movies that show the protagonist being a team of un-sexualized, heroic women. It is about time that the movie industry gave us this all-women "Ghostbusters."
