I watched Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and I liked it. 3/5
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Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire delivers plenty of ghostly fun, impressive visuals, and a dose of nostalgia, but its overly complicated plot and heavy-handed exposition hold it back from fully recapturing the franchise’s magic. Directed by Gil Kenan, this sequel builds on the events of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, reuniting both veteran and new Ghostbusters for a high-stakes showdown against an ancient, icy foe. While the film has its share of entertaining moments and memorable performances, its tendency to over-explain the supernatural elements detracts from the lighter, more adventurous tone that made the earlier films so enjoyable.
The story sees the Spengler family—Callie (Carrie Coon), Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace)—relocating to New York City to help Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) and Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) reestablish the Ghostbusters. When the team discovers an ancient brass orb holding Garraka, a phantom god with the power to freeze the city, their mission quickly escalates into a fight for survival. As Garraka’s icy grip spreads, the Ghostbusters must unravel the orb’s secrets and stop a supernatural apocalypse while dealing with ghosts spilling from their overloaded containment unit.
Mckenna Grace shines once again as Phoebe, anchoring the film with her intelligence, curiosity, and understated humor. Grace brings emotional depth to the story, especially in her interactions with Melody, the ghost of a teenage girl with a mysterious connection to the central threat. These scenes are some of the film’s most poignant, balancing the larger-than-life stakes with personal moments of connection. Finn Wolfhard’s Trevor and Logan Kim’s Podcast provide comic relief, though their characters have less to do this time around. Paul Rudd as Gary Grooberson is as charming as ever, delivering dependable laughs even if his role feels somewhat sidelined.
The returning veterans—Aykroyd, Hudson, and a brief appearance by Bill Murray’s Peter Venkman—bring nostalgia and warmth to the film. Hudson’s Winston, in particular, plays a central role, providing leadership and financial backing for the new Ghostbusters operation. The balance between the old and new cast is handled well, giving fans of the original franchise plenty to enjoy while allowing the younger characters to continue forging their own path.
Where Frozen Empire stumbles is in its overreliance on exposition. The film dives deep into the mythology surrounding Garraka, cursed objects, and ancient rituals, but it does so in a way that feels heavy-handed and bogs down the pacing. While expanding the lore of the Ghostbusters universe is an intriguing concept, the excessive explanations sap some of the mystery and fun from the story. The original Ghostbusters thrived on a mix of humor, action, and just enough pseudoscience to keep things interesting without getting bogged down in details. In contrast, Frozen Empire often feels like it’s trying too hard to spell everything out.
Visually, the film is stunning. The frozen apocalypse setting adds a fresh aesthetic to the franchise, with haunting ice-covered streets and chilling ghost designs that blend eerie beauty with the franchise’s trademark whimsy. The action sequences are exciting and well-executed, particularly the climactic battle at the Ghostbusters’ firehouse, which features creative uses of ghostbusting gadgets and teamwork. Garraka is a visually striking villain, and the icy effects tied to his powers bring a unique menace to the film, even if his backstory becomes overly convoluted.
Humor remains a key strength, with sharp one-liners and the quirky dynamics between the characters keeping the tone light despite the apocalyptic stakes. While the comedic beats don’t always land as effectively as in the original films, there are still plenty of laughs, particularly from Rudd’s Grooberson and Kim’s Podcast. The film’s callbacks to the 1984 original and Afterlife are plentiful, but they feel more integrated than forced, adding a layer of nostalgia without overshadowing the new story.
In the end, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire offers enough thrills, laughs, and ghostbusting action to entertain fans, but its overly complex plot and tendency to over-explain the supernatural elements prevent it from reaching its full potential. It’s a solid addition to the franchise, even if it doesn’t quite capture the breezy charm of its predecessors. For longtime fans, it’s a fun, if imperfect, continuation of the Ghostbusters legacy.
3/5