Paul Rudd has hit a bit of a lull in his career after enjoying a strong run at the box office for years. With Ant-Man 3 failing to leave an impression on the audience, the saga once again repeats itself with his new film, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
The Ghostbusters universe is one of the most beloved franchises around at present. In the four decades that it has been around, it has garnered a big but loyal fanbase. Unfortunately, the latest installment has disappointed both fans and critics alike.
Paul Rudd joined the Ghostbusters franchise, but the film falters
In recent years, the trend of existing films getting reboots has become quite popular, even if the film is not too old. Ghostbusters is one such franchise that has seen several reboots and sequels, and the universe is starting to feel a little crowded.
2016 saw an all-female reboot, with comedy queens Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, and others. Even Thor star Chris Hemsworth was part of the star-studded cast.
The latest film, Frozen Empire, has managed to bring back a few of the original cast members, like Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, and Annie Potts. Paul Rudd was one of the biggest additions to the film, and he played the role of Gary Grooberson. The new film also features Stranger Things star Winn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon, and McKenna Grace.
Kumail Nanjiani: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is Just a “Long episode” of a Forgotten Animated Series
Frozen Empire picks up after the events of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which came out in 2021. Callie and Gary, played by Coon and Rudd, respectively, move to New York with Callie’s children, Trevor and Phoebe. Things quickly take a turn for the worse, when Nadeem, played by Kumail Nanjiani, tries to sell off an orb. The object is the only thing that is stopping the villain, a ghost with unlimited power to freeze.
The new film is decent at best but nothing remarkable, except for Nanjiani, who managed to outshine the others. There are jokes abound and even a spark of queer romance, but neither land very well. In the end, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire only succeeds in letting its fans take a nostalgic trip.
The reviews for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire are out and they are a bit concerning for the franchise
A beloved franchise, Ghostbusters, has now started to limp a little. The older cast members seem detached, and the newer additions do not bring much to the table. Moreover, it has registered the worst audience score of all time.
With the film set to hit theatres very soon, the review embargo has been lifted. Most are hailing it as “a sad attempt at nostalgia,” without much else to offer. Here is a roundup of reviews for the film so far.
‘GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE’ is a sad attempt at nostalgia bait. It's time to let this franchise stay dead for good.
Find out more in our review… https://t.co/p9z7lg8rfc
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 20, 2024
🍿Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire | Cinema Scroll Review🎬 pic.twitter.com/0rp4ynTIVm
— Cinema Scroll (@CinemaScroll) March 21, 2024
Surprisingly creepy and charmingly off-beat, 'GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE' is a fun ghostly romp that’s let down by playing it safe
Our review: https://t.co/y7g9V5MA8m pic.twitter.com/K27mtTaDPJ
— ScreenTime (@screentime) March 20, 2024
While I had fun at times, #Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire was sadly a mixed bag for me: Too many characters and WAY TOO MUCH Nostalgia… Watch My REVIEW Below! pic.twitter.com/GEflbNetCp
— Andy Signore (@andysignore) March 20, 2024
GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE Review Round Up:
Radio Times – 4/5
NME – 4/5
Independent – 3/5
DenOfGeek – 3/5
Total Film – 3/5
Guardian – 2/5
Empire – 2/5
Little White Lies – 2/5
Telegraph – 1/5
Collider – 5/10
GameSpot – 5/10
IGN – 4/10
IndieWire – C-#GhostbustersFrozenEmpire pic.twitter.com/5gAIwk1JDW— The Movie Badger (@TheMovieBadger) March 20, 2024
Movie Review: 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' clears a low bar https://t.co/akkU4FtljJ
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 20, 2024
While the latest film might not be a masterpiece, it is still worth watching if you are a fan. The film will hit the theatres on March 22nd.
