Thirty years after the release of the second instalment of the adventures of Venkman, Stantz, Spengler and Zeddemore,Ghostbusters, the ghost hunters are back in a brand-new film, Ghostbusters: Legacy, broadcast on TV this Sunday, October 22, at 9.10pm on TF1. The film is directed by Jason Reitman, son of director Ivan Reitman, who helmed the first two instalments of the saga.
As for the cast, the actors from the first two films (with the exception ofHarold Ramis, who passed away in 2014) will be back in action as the team of ghost hunters in New York. But the cast will also feature a number of new faces, including Mckenna Grace(Captain Marvel, Annabelle: House of Evil...), Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things, Ça: chapitre 2...), Paul Rudd(Ant-Man and The Wasp, Avengers: Endgame...) and Carrie Coon(Avengers: Infinity War, Les Veuves...).
Jason Reitman also clarified that this is a sequel to the first two opuses, and that this feature film would have nothing to do with the reboot released in 2016, directed by Paul Feig and starring Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig and Leslie Jones as the revenant exterminators.
Review
Ghostbusters: Legacy is a feature film that should appeal to fans and new generations alike, on several counts: firstly, it's a genuine tribute to the saga, and in particular to Harold Ramis, who passed away in 2014, offering everything that gave the first two installments their flavor, while modernizing everything to speak to new generations. A true madeleine de Proust as we like them, surfing on the good old movies of the 80s(Back to the Future, Gremlins, The Goonies...) and on this unalterable nostalgia that the film arouses.
Another point is the numerous references and easter eggs offered from the very first minutes of the film right through to the end. Fans will be delighted to find some of the franchise's most iconic characters, as well as a number of other references, all of which add something new to the film as its story progresses. None is left to chance, and the evolution of some, modernized to fit today's world, adds a certain depth to the storyline. A risky gamble that Jason Reitman takes up with brio.
A film that also speaks to the younger generation, thanks to a cast in tune with the times, featuring a group of children taking up the baton. McKenna Grace carries the film brilliantly, playing Phoebe, a young girl of unparalleled intelligence who quickly realizes that something is going on in Summerville, where she has settled with her family. Special mention also goes to the film's "adult" cast, Carrie Coon and Paul Rudd, who play the protagonist's mother and her science teacher, secondary characters who also bring another freshness to the film, without taking the lead.
The film's cinematography is superb, and the screenplay, while not revolutionizing the genre (the same characters are used over and over again...), does offer a few nice surprises. It's also a film that doesn't suffer from length, as the pace is sustained from start to finish. In short, it's a complete success for Jason Reitman, who succeeds in bringing the franchise back to life - after Paul Feig 's half-baked attempt in 2016 - and promises it a bright future. Go for it!
