STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Ghostbusters Movie Review: 'Stellar Cast in a Busted Movie'

Ghostbusters is one of the most anticipated films of the year, rebooted with an all-female cast. The 1984 version is considered a classic, as it was one of the highest-grossing films of the 1980s and who doesn't know the line from Ray Parker Jr.'s theme song: "Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!" Bobby Brown scored his one and only No. 1 hit with "On Our Own" in 1989 from the Ghostbusters II soundtrack. Ghostbusters was a pop cultural phenomenon. Can a reimagination have the same impact in 2016?
The new version is a similar plot to the original. Ghosts are destroying New York City and four quirky scientists save the day. The film is a valiant effort with a flawless cast, but Ghostbusters is difficult to replicate. Sci-fi comedy with silly green goblins, Disney-like paranormal devils, the fluorescent undead ruling Manhattan and a wildly predictable plot does. Short on suspense and laughs, even with comedy powerhouses, Ghostbusters is a bust.

Yes, the cast is cinema gold: Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and the comedic perfection of Leslie Jones. They are talented actresses with superb timing, extreme likability and a joy to watch on screen, but I wish they were in a different movie with a stronger script. The kooky script doesn’t play to their strengths and their acting chops are overwhelmed by cheeseball special effects. There are some funny one-liners, but isolated moments of humor can't sustain a two-hour film. I appreciated the girl power element of the film, but Ghostbusters is a stellar cast in a bland movie. 

On a side note, the underutilized Leslie Jones is an absolute star. I look forward to seeing more from her on the screen as the Tennessee native has a long career ahead. And while Ghostbusters wasn’t a memorable film, she delivered memorable moments.

There is pressure for the film to do well because it's "an all-female" cast, which is ludicrous. Films starring only men sometimes bomb and other times hit box office gold — regardless of whether or not it's a good movie. We will have gender equality on the big screen when movies starring all women aren't a reflection of every film starring women. Ghostbusters should stand on its own, and on its own, the movie is busted.
Ghostbusters is in theaters now.

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.