glitter_n_gore (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
glitter_n_gore) wrote2016-07-17 10:40 pm
glitter_n_gore) wrote2016-07-17 10:40 pm
Ghostbusters: Part 2
Just got back! I'll try to avoid spoilers. Short version: Loved it! My face hurts from laughing so hard, and I'm sure I missed quite a bit of dialogue for the same reason, so I'm down for seeing it again. Only next time, I'll spring for 3D. There aren't many movies that make me want to spring for 3D. This is one of them.
Less short version:
The plot is pretty simple and straightforward, so I'll skip it. All you need to know is there are ghosts in Manhattan, three brilliant scientists and one streetwise MTA worker join forces to eradicate the problem, and hijinks ensue.
Like the original, it's not especially clever or subtle, but it is endlessly quotable, and very funny. The real magic isn't in the plot, or even the beautifully rendered CGI effects, but in the character building and writing. You're there to see a team of witty comedians play off each other and become the nerdy, badass heroes you always wanted to be growing up. And that's basically what you get.
The scene-stealer is Kate McKinnon as Holtzmann, an unapologetically eccentric genius who wears her weirdness on her sleeve like a pair of bright yellow safety glasses. I adored her the minute she showed up onscreen. All her outfits and quirky-yet-morbid one-liners are perfection. I understand she's a regular on SNL now, but this was my first time seeing her in anything, and I want more!
All the women in the cast are huge dorks. There's no parallel to Venkman in this story, no sarcastic everyman type who acts above it all while the socially inept smart ones do all the work. Kristen Wiig's character, Erin Gilbert, is framed as the main protagonist; she's a struggling university professor trying for a tenure track, and getting blocked at every turn, and her history with Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) is partly to blame for that. But truly this is an ensemble piece. They all pitch in, they all come from a background of being misunderstood and not taken seriously, and they all get to strap on their proton packs and save New York.
One of the biggest surprises for me was how much I enjoyed Chris Hemsworth as the ditzy receptionist, Kevin. Not that I don't always enjoy Chris Hemsworth onscreen. But he has a knack for physical comedy that hasn't been explored as much as it could be. I'm convinced a good 80% of his performance was ad-libbed, and it is amazing.
The only criticism I have is that Leslie Jones as Patty got handed the Sassy card here. And that's . . . unfortunate. She does get a lot more screentime than Ernie Hudson, in either of the previous two movies, so that's something I guess. I did enjoy her performance. Stereotypes being what they are, it could've been much worse. But that's seriously nit-picky on my part.
After months of building both excitement and no small amount of trepidation as to whether this could measure up to the classic that inspired it, I was not disappointed. This exceeded all my expectations and I can't wait to see it again.
Now bring back Ecto Cooler so I can celebrate properly!
Less short version:
The plot is pretty simple and straightforward, so I'll skip it. All you need to know is there are ghosts in Manhattan, three brilliant scientists and one streetwise MTA worker join forces to eradicate the problem, and hijinks ensue.
Like the original, it's not especially clever or subtle, but it is endlessly quotable, and very funny. The real magic isn't in the plot, or even the beautifully rendered CGI effects, but in the character building and writing. You're there to see a team of witty comedians play off each other and become the nerdy, badass heroes you always wanted to be growing up. And that's basically what you get.
The scene-stealer is Kate McKinnon as Holtzmann, an unapologetically eccentric genius who wears her weirdness on her sleeve like a pair of bright yellow safety glasses. I adored her the minute she showed up onscreen. All her outfits and quirky-yet-morbid one-liners are perfection. I understand she's a regular on SNL now, but this was my first time seeing her in anything, and I want more!
All the women in the cast are huge dorks. There's no parallel to Venkman in this story, no sarcastic everyman type who acts above it all while the socially inept smart ones do all the work. Kristen Wiig's character, Erin Gilbert, is framed as the main protagonist; she's a struggling university professor trying for a tenure track, and getting blocked at every turn, and her history with Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) is partly to blame for that. But truly this is an ensemble piece. They all pitch in, they all come from a background of being misunderstood and not taken seriously, and they all get to strap on their proton packs and save New York.
One of the biggest surprises for me was how much I enjoyed Chris Hemsworth as the ditzy receptionist, Kevin. Not that I don't always enjoy Chris Hemsworth onscreen. But he has a knack for physical comedy that hasn't been explored as much as it could be. I'm convinced a good 80% of his performance was ad-libbed, and it is amazing.
The only criticism I have is that Leslie Jones as Patty got handed the Sassy card here. And that's . . . unfortunate. She does get a lot more screentime than Ernie Hudson, in either of the previous two movies, so that's something I guess. I did enjoy her performance. Stereotypes being what they are, it could've been much worse. But that's seriously nit-picky on my part.
After months of building both excitement and no small amount of trepidation as to whether this could measure up to the classic that inspired it, I was not disappointed. This exceeded all my expectations and I can't wait to see it again.
Now bring back Ecto Cooler so I can celebrate properly!