Simple stories can be very hard to tell. And yet sometimes the simplest story can resonate with the viewer much more deeply than the most intricate and metaphorical cinema with a host of deep characters and complex plot twists. The new “Ghostbusters” is extremely simple – and that is its main charm.

About the Plot

Callie (Carrie Coon) is going through a rough patch. There’s not enough money to pay for the apartment, her son Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) is dealing with the crisis of adolescence, and her daughter Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) is poorly socialized and interested in nothing but science.

Suddenly, they inherit an old farm in Oklahoma from Callie’s father, who once ran away from the family. Now they must not only fix up the farm and try to settle into a new place, but also uncover the secrets of the family’s past to prevent a disaster in the future…

“Ghostbusters” and Their Sequels

Let’s face it – after the nightmare that was the infamous “Ghostbusters: Answer the Call,” only the most die-hard optimist still believed in the franchise. Paul Feig’s creation was saved neither by the presence of decent comedic actresses, nor by the fairly respectable “Bridesmaids” in the creative team’s portfolio, nor by the cameos of the original Ghostbusters.

A glimmer of hope that the upcoming film wouldn’t be as spectacularly bad came with the news that the director’s chair would be taken by Jason Reitman, son of Ivan Reitman, who helmed the first films in the franchise.

And what do we get? Essentially – a remake of the first film, adapted for modern times. Practically – an excellent, gripping, and very fun adventure for all ages. An extremely classic plot (all according to the “hero’s journey” theory), which makes this film perfect for a family movie night even years from now.

Despite the genre mismatch, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” reminded me most of the 2017 film “It.” The suburbs, the yellow color filter, the paranormal phenomena that charming kids are trying to figure out. And yet, even if we acknowledge the inspiration, we can only rejoice at how fittingly it came into play in a completely different story.

References and Easter Eggs

Because the new “Ghostbusters” continues the original films rather than the 2016 reboot, we are in for a lot of references and even direct borrowings of plot points.

I can imagine a fair number of viewers who, upon leaving the theater, will say: “This film is too derivative! Blatant and shameless fan service in its purest form!” And I can understand where that point of view comes from. Indeed, from small references and quotes to major plot twists – quoting is everywhere.

Why isn’t this so bad? First, all the quoting is appropriate and fits perfectly into the overall logic of what’s happening. Shameless fan service is an Easter egg for the sake of an Easter egg, not for some larger purpose, and it’s hard to accuse the new film of that. Here, all of Chekhov’s Easter egg guns inevitably go off one way or another. Second, the new film can be watched without prior knowledge of its predecessors. This means that witty scenes will be appreciated even by those who don’t notice the quoting.

This is very good, masterfully done, and works for the benefit of the film.

Characters

“Ghostbusters: Afterlife” managed to do what many, even the most renowned directors, cannot always do. Namely, give us characters that are interesting to watch. One way or another, all the important characters were revealed to us, each was given a personality, and each was set goals they try to achieve.

I especially want to note the surprisingly good performance of Mckenna Grace. Children rarely can carry a lead role on their fragile shoulders, but Mckenna handles it with ease. Mark my words, soon we will see this actress on screen as often as her co-star Finn.

The supporting characters not only didn’t disappoint – they sometimes completely steal the show. Phoebe’s summer school buddy named Podcast, played by Logan Kim, turned out surprisingly well. It’s unclear whether this is due to the charismatic young actor, the good dialogue, the chemistry between him and the main character, or a combination of all these factors.

Plus, the comedic talent of Paul Rudd, who is in his element, cannot but delight. He is magnificent.

Conclusion

“Ghostbusters: Afterlife” is a true dark horse that no one bet on and that managed to cross the finish line first. It is an example of how remakes/reboots/sequels can and should be made many years later. A simple and unpretentious film that pays tribute to its predecessors and will delight new viewers.

At the same time, the film is surprisingly beautiful, the grotesque is presented with taste, and there are a couple of very unexpected and therefore uproariously funny cameos (which I won’t spoil for you, since even Kinopoisk doesn’t spoil them), not counting the fairly expected cameos that even got applause in our theater.

Highly recommended for movie fans of all ages.

And if you love the original films, be sure to stay for the post-credits scene.