Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Taking over from his father, Ivan, Jason Reitman has the enviable and stressful task of making a sequel to one of his classics with Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Focusing on the estranged daughter of Egon Spangler and her kids, who after learning of his death inherit the dilapidated farm the eccentric scientist owned in a small town in Oklahoma. Once there, Egon's grandkids, Phoebe and Trevor, not only uncover his Ghostbusting devices, including the proton packs and Ectomobile, but also the reemergence of ghosts and the return of a familiar villain that he feared would come back to bring out the apocalypse. With the help of other kids in town, and eventually the return of the original team, a new Ghostbusters team must stop the ghostly threat from endangering the world. As been said before, making another film in this franchise isn't easy, especially after the 2016 film, but going from father to son, with Ivan staying on as producer, is a reassuring way of having someone close to the original still be involved and having any changes at least be done under the original creator's eyes. Having some of the original cast also helps in making the passing of the torch to the new ones feel a lot more natural. Seeing Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Ernie Hudson in their old ghostbusting outfits alongside the spirit of Egon with CG used to recreate Harold Ramis was both exciting and emotional. Them, alongside newcomers like McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, and Paul Rudd all give strong and fun performances and it's very obvious how passionate everyone involved in this is. Jason and Gil Kenan's script manages to capture most of what made the 80s films so loved while having some unique aspects that fit the younger Reitman's style. You still get some rather eccentric but lovable characters, fun moments involving the first use of new tech against ghosts, and a final destructive battle against the main threat. The biggest differences is its setting in a small town in the middle of nowhere, being more character driven rather than just relying on jokes and gags, and a slower pace focusing on drama. While it does tend to have numerous references and call backs to the classics, some of them do feel forced sometimes, its story relating to Gozer and Ivo Shandor does feel very natural and the way they're handled at the end does manage to go a different way. Other aspects that make this film work and have a different feel is the lush cinematography, well-paced editing, computer and practical effects blending well together, and the score evoking the original theme while adding new stuff. Even if this isn't that well regarded, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a worthy sequel with a post credit scene that hints at something bigger akin to the larger ideas Aykroyd originally envisioned for the original. Over all: 100%

2021 top list so far:

1. In the Heights

2. No Time to Die

3. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

4. The Green Knight

5. Candyman 2021

6. The Suicide Squad

7. Ghostbusters: Afterlife

8. Last Night in Soho

9. Dune 2021

10. Free Guy

11. Nobody

12. Black Widow

13. A Quiet Place Part II

14. Respect

15. Raya and the Last Dragon

16. Malignant

17. Eternals

18. Halloween Kills

19. Jungle Cruise

20. Cruella

21. Wrath of Man

22. F9

23. Venom: Let There Be Carnage

24. Snake Eyes

25. Old

26. Space Jam: A New Legacy