Ghostbusters (2016)

1985 was a good year. Tears For Fears shouted their »Shout« into the world on the radio for the first time. A band from Norway with the funny name a-ha caused a furor with their song and the accompanying comic video. And a strange movie Names »Ghostbusters« came into the German cinemas. As I already explained in my review of the Netflix series »Stranger Things«, you could not know at the time that this film would become an absolute cult hit. It was just a good movie about four scientists who become ghost hunters and skillfully mixed comedy with sci-fi and horror elements.T he movie, like many things from the 80s, gained an enthusiastic fan base, which was mainly made up of outsiders. Now, over thirty years later, a remake of Ghostbusters is coming to theaters. Again, the story is about four scientists who become ghost hunters, and it skillfully mixes the genres of comedy with sci-fi and horror elements. The only small difference: the scientists are played by women this time.

The two physicists Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) and Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) have dedicated their entire lives to the study of paranormal phenomena. But Erin Gilbert now wants to take a job at a prestigious university and not resume her paranormal activities, much to the displeasure of her friend Abby Yates, who believes she has made a breakthrough in finally being able to scientifically explain and catch paranormal phenomena such as ghosts with the help of the brilliant engineering of Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon). When a homeowner plagued by ghosts asks Erin for help, she and Abby bury the hatchet. Together with Holtzmann, subway employee Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones) and underexposed pretty boy Kevin (Chris Hemsworth), they form the »Ghostbusters« to save New York from a new ghost invasion ...

So what? You might say. If you look at the film through the lens of male critics, the film is sacrilege. Female comedians taking over the parts of male comedians! And every testerone-driven critic knows that women can do anything but be funny! But if you look at the film without the baggage of the beloved classic from the '80s, the new Ghostbusters film is a successful rebirth with an amusing story and an excellent cast. Melissa McCarthy finally gets to play a little more restrained, which immediately makes it a lot funnier. Kristin Wiig's portrayal of Erin Gilbert is reminiscent of a young Diane Keaton with her awkwardly stiff humor. And the »Spengler-replacement« (please note the quotation marks) Kate McKinnon plays the stoic Mad-Scientist from the first version smoothly to the wall. Holtzmann is, for me, the best female supporting character of 2016. Even the bad boy of the film, Rowan (played by Neil Casey) is more believable this time around. He is, in fact, exactly the kind of outsider that the original took to heart thirty years ago. But instead of dealing creatively with his exclusion, he wants to throw the world into chaos out of revenge. As he launches into a tearful monologue, the female Ghostbusters explain to him that, as women, they are constantly subjected to worse humiliations and still try to see the beautiful things in life.

But this message doesn't go over well with the villain Ronan, nor with the film's critics, who feel cheated. It's a shame they miss out on one of the best comedies of the year with slight flaws in the plot, but the great ensemble acting makes up for it. A beautiful film that is just plain fun to watch.