If you’re a millennial who grew up with parents who love Ghostbusters, spent weekends re-watching the movie through VHS tapes, and imagined yourself as a ghostbuster back when ghost stories shookt everyone to the core, then this new movie is for you! Ghostbusters Frozen Empire is like a warm welcome to Generation Alpha (the kids born after Gen Zs) and a nostalgic tribute to the OG fans. The film brings together the beloved original cast along with fresh faces, promising an action-packed experience that will delight both younger audiences and fans of the classic franchise.

Three years ago, the release of Ghostbusters: Afterlife served somewhat like a passing of the torch to a new generation of Ghostbusters and filmmakers. Now, the story continues as the team returns with more young bloods in the gang. In this latest installment, the Spengler family reunites at the legendary firehouse, where the original Ghostbusters have established a secret research lab dedicated to their ghost-busting technology. However, their plans are interrupted when the discovery of an ancient artifact triggers a chilling –literally — catastrophe, unleashing an army of ghosts and freezing the city (thus the title). Now, old and new Ghostbusters must unite to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.

Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, and Mckenna Grace lead the cast, alongside the original Ghostbusters team. With the mix of action and comedy, they infuse the film with both heartwarming nostalgia and fresh energy, ensuring that audiences of all ages will be captivated from start to finish.

While it admittedly doesn’t have the same appeal as the OG film which was really iconic when I watched it for the first time as a kid, I have a hunch that kids who see this film would definitely understand why their parents are still singing the Ghostbusters theme song up to this day. It also made me want to grab a book and start reading about protons and the universe again! For some reason, Ghostbusters never fails to make being smart look super cool.

I also enjoyed all the fan service and references to the original piece. Although Slimer and the mini Pufts only had a few minutes on the big screen, they were enough to make me feel like a kid again. Who knew ghosts and creatures can be this adorable, right?

The set, props, and costumers were also all on point! I still prefer the brown version of the Ghostbusters uniform than the red one, though. This is pretty obvious, given my Ghostbusters-inspired OOTD when I watched the film:

I won’t share spoilers but even though I enjoyed watching, I only have one negative thing to say: There are characters that don’t help that much in the story. Part of me wishes they’d allotted more time to the action scenes and the “Frozen Empire” part than give screen time to the fire-bending guy who had very little (or almost abrupt) character development in the film. Still works well as a family movie, though.

Directed by Gil Kenan, who previously co-wrote and executive produced Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire marks a decent continuation of the Ghostbusters saga. Stepping into the director’s chair, Kenan brings his unique vision to the film, blending humor, heart, and supernatural thrills to create a unique cinematic experience.

As fans eagerly anticipate the release of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire in theaters nationwide on April 10, 2024, it’s clear that this film will reignite the love for Ghostbusters in a whole new generation.

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