What are we going to remake in 40 years if the only things we’re making now are tired sequels to old franchise reboots? While 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife introduced a young cast and rural location to balance out the original team and same-old threats, this sequel brings everything back to the original film – even recycling some of the same jokes. But they’re a pale echo of its greatness in an overly stuffed and only occasionally fun spectral adventure.
Once again, it’s written by Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan; this time the latter takes directing duties. Like Afterlife, it’s lazily nostalgic and fond of recycling old jokes rather than cracking new ones. There’s a story of sorts for McKenna Grace’s likeably geeky would-be ghostbuster, but barely anything for Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd or British comedian James Acaster. Let us assume that Bill Murray’s part is inconsequential by choice. It all smacks of a franchise actively ghosting anything original or innovative, and fatally haunted by past triumphs.
In cinemas worldwide Mar 22.
