‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ is a heartfelt love letter to fans

Posted on November 26, 2021

By MARK VIOLA

The classic “Ghostbusters” movie from 1984 is, at its core, a goofy comedy about a group of out-of-work academics who turn their pursuit of the supernatural into day jobs catching ghosts around New York City. However, thanks to clever writing and wonderful performances, the film has become firmly entrenched in our collective pop culture.

In 1989, we got “Ghostbusters II,” and while that film wasn’t nearly as good as the original, fans clamored for more. However, a second sequel never arrived due to a variety of reasons, not the least of which was the well-publicized falling out between actors Bill Murray and Harold Ramis. (The feud reportedly lasted until shortly before Ramis’ death in 2014.)

After Ramis died, any further hopes of a sequel were seemingly put to rest. Two years later, we got the ill-fated “Ghostbusters” reboot, with a whole new cast and a story that ignored the first two films completely. In addition to becoming a social media lightning rod, the movie was a mediocre “Ghostbusters” film and an even worse comedy.

Then, in January 2019, it was announced writer/director Jason Reitman (“Juno,” “Up in the Air”), son of original director Ivan Reitman, was making a new movie connected to the first two films with his father attached as producer.

Originally scheduled for release in July 2020, the film was delayed due to COVID-19 and is now finally out in movie theaters.

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