Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) are forced to move to their late grandfather's farm in Summerville, Oklahoma, with their mom, Callie (Carrie Coon). Trevor finds work at a diner with Lucky (Celeste O'Connor). Meanwhile, Phoebe goes to summer school with a kid calling himself Podcast (Logan Kim). Their teacher, Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd), starts dating Callie. Phoebe and Trevor find a few things around the farm that prove their grandfather was more than a mere "dirt farmer."
Their grandfather is original Ghostbuster Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), who moved there to prevent the second coming of their nemesis, Gozer. Summerville was even founded by Gozer's number one human fan, Ivo Shandor. Egon's provisions might not hold the Gozerian back forever. So, Phoebe, Trevor, Podcast and Lucky have to form a new team of Ghostbusters to vanquish the evil one.
Original series director Ivan Reitman gives the director chair to his son, Jason (who cameoed in Ghostbusters II as a rude kid). Jason and Gil Kenan's screenplay has a few references to the original films, yes. But it also has a strong story for Phoebe; initially as emotionally repressed as Egon, she learns to show emotions over time. The police chief insulting Egon's memory drives her to go for a proton pack. She even takes on Gozer directly in the climax; the first time with a really tense round of lame jokes. What's to hate?
Phoebe's fellow mortals are a great bunch. Fellow Ghostbusters Trevor, Lucky and Podcast are a likable crew and there's great chemistry between them all. Rudd as Grooberson is a likably eccentric teacher whose viewing material isn't kid friendly but still foreshadowing. Coon as Callie has plenty of pent-up resentment towards Egon, which leads to a strong scene when she discovers he really did care. Let's not forget the surviving Ghostbusters, who return to lend a hand against Gozer. Gozer is voiced by Shohreh Aghdashloo and played physically by Emma Portner and an unrecognizable and uncredited Olivia Wilde. It's an impressive arrangement.
I should start the technicals with Egon's portrayal. Aside from stock footage, he's played by a digitally-made up double. The opening shows his face in shadow, while the finale fully shows his digital ghost. I think the end result is well done. The ghosts and demons are a strong mix of CGI (the metal eating Muncher, the mini Stay Pufts), animatronics with CGI (Gozer's Terror Dogs, Vinz Clortho and Zuul). and human actors with CGI (Gozer, who has a creepy non-corporeal form). Beyond the visuals, composer Rob Simonsen mixes Elmer Bernstein's compositions from the first film with a few bits that would've fit right in. I can go on, but I won't.
I didn't think it was possible years ago. But Ghostbusters Afterlife is a strong continuation of one of the best 80s milestones. Its reverence for the past films goes beyond "I get it" moments. It's a strong story about coming to terms with the past. Oh yes, and it's also pretty funny. The new Ghostbusters are welcome to return should a sequel be made. Of course, the end credits gives us a potential sequel hook. It's one that I do hope they follow on. It's a great start to a long Holiday season.
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