In “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (2024), the fourth and latest installment of the franchise, the members of the Spengler family return to the Ghostbusters’ roots in New York City where they encounter possibly their most dangerous foe and protect their home from a second Ice Age. “Frozen Empire” is a fun, light-hearted addition to the Ghostbusters legacy, anchored by solid performances from Mckenna Grace, Dan Aykroyd and Paul Rudd.
With “Frozen Empire,” director Gil Kenan continues to prove that the Ghostbusters property is alive and well, giving fans of the original films and “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” (2021) a new take that leaves room for more installments in the future.
Kenan and co-writer Jason Reitman take Grace’s Phoebe Spengler to new and complex places in the film by giving her relationships, such as one with Emily Alyn Lind as a ghost named Melody, that set the scene for exciting conflict come the finale. Furthermore, Kenan and Reitman do a good job at incorporating the old cast with the new, producing a Ghostbusters lineup consisting of multiple generations.
Speaking of the Ghostbusters lineup, the performances in “Frozen Empire” allow the viewer to overlook the occasional campy dialogue and plot hole. Grace is the standout in the film, giving Phoebe the confidence and gravitas needed to stand apart when in a room full of established stars, such as Rudd, Kumail Nanjiani and Carrie Coon. Dan Aykroyd exudes charisma and passion for the material, a welcome sight in a film that also has weaker performances, especially those from Finn Wolfhard, Bill Murray and, sadly, even the amazing Patton Oswalt.
Unlike “Afterlife,” in “Frozen Empire” Kenan brings viewers back to the bustling streets of New York in a move that is all for the better. In both “Ghostbusters” (1984) and “Ghostbusters II” (1989), New York City was more than just the setting of the stories being told — it was a character in itself. Luckily, this feeling is replicated in the newest film.
By using familiar light motifs in its score first heard in the original, composed then by Elmer Bernstein and sampled now by composer Dario Marianelli, paired with iconic locations shot by Eric Steelberg, Kenan gives the film an overall sense of nostalgia and purpose often lost in other legacy sequels. With a budget of just $100 million, “Frozen Empire” manages to have convincing special effects all around, from each ghost to an electricity bolt fired from a proton pack. Lastly, the sound design in the film is quite impressive and nothing gets me quite as excited as hearing that iconic Ghostbusters siren.
“Frozen Empire” is a solid new installment in this beloved franchise. Despite some big plot holes and cheesy dialogue, many moviegoers should find plenty to enjoy.
