Is it
a scary comedy? Or is it a funny ghost movie? It’s hard to put “Ghostbusters”
into any specific genre or category, as it’s a film that works on many levels
and appeals to just about everyone. Originally the brainchild of
actors/comedians/writers Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, Ghostbusters was the
first comedy film to become a blockbuster, originally taking in almost $300
million worldwide. It was a smash, instantly becoming a favourite and setting
itself apart as a distinct comedy film amongst all others.
Now
Ghostbusters is not exactly a kid’s movie, with its adult humour, raunchy
scenes and few intense, scary moments, but none the less kids all over the
world lapped it up. Even if they didn’t get all the tongue-in-cheek jokes right
from the style of Saturday Night Live at the time, it was more the visual gags
that won over the younger audience. You can’t deny that when you were younger,
watching this film, its sequel and even the short-lived cartoon series, that
you didn’t want your own proton pack. How about that classic car the
Ghostbusters drove around in? And of course who could forget the disgustingly
vulgar but strangely lovable Slimer, oozing his way into our hearts. And to top
it all off the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man wreaking havoc in New York City.
Everything about this film was so inventive and clever, it would warrant repeat
viewings, and no doubt you were one of those kids, like me, who wanted to rent
it every trip to the video store, or stay up and watch in on TV whenever it
came on.
So
many elements of this film work well together, you could call it a case of
lighting in a bottle. Firstly, the entire cast is picked to perfection and play
their parts like they were born to be those characters. Bill Murray graduated
into this film from such slapstick stuff as “Stripes” and “Caddyshack”, turning
in a performance here which would go on to be the benchmark for which most of
his roles to follow would look up to. Bill Murray does dry and deadpan like no
other, and as Peter Venkman he is the perfect balance to the rest of the
Ghostbusters team made up of two geeky scientists who wet their paints over
poltergeists; those being Ray and Egon (Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis). Then Ernie Hudson joined the
cast about halfway through as the no-nonsense Winston, with the tough, street
smart attitude that gave the team its muscle.
The
supporting characters are just as good. Annie Potts as the infinitely bored and
stoic receptionist Janine didn’t raise a single eyebrow when the Ghostbusters
cracked a joke. Sigourney Weaver as the lovely Dana Barret, who happens to live
in an unusual apartment building where our films main ghost decides to launch
their attack on New York. Then to throw some more humour into the mix was the
casting of Rick Moranis as Louis Tully; the nervous, neurotic nerd who lives
across the hall from Dana and gets caught up in all the ghostly going-ons. Each
character is so well drawn and gets more than enough time to strut their stuff,
not just for scoring gags in the film, but to serve the story.
The
story itself is very well written and offbeat. Working as scientists for the
University, Venkman, Ray and Egon try to prove the existence of ghosts, by
advertising themselves as Poltergeist Police of sorts. But no one takes them
seriously, especially when their attempts to catch said ghosts cause more
damage than solve any problems. Deciding to go into business for themselves,
they throw all their money into buying an old, rundown fire station, and a
former ambulance vehicle. With their own scientific tools and tricks, they
develop a way to trap a ghost and store it in the basement of their
headquarters. After their first call out goes well, business starts to boom. It
seems something is on the horizon in the spirit world, and all the ghosts
popping up around Manhattan is leading up to a big event, which only the
Ghostbusters can handle.
So
there’s the story, and it’s a simple one, but it’s the characters that drive it
forward into many hilarious and entertaining moments. The on screen chemistry
of the actors works brilliantly, as their characters try to appear as knowing
what they’re doing as the Ghostbusters, but are really just winging it. Their
whole approach to the situation is half-witted, blaze and clumsy, which just adds
to the fun. It’s a movie about ghosts, but you won’t be scared, and there is
rarely a serious moment to be seen on screen.
Ghostbusters
quickly became a comedy classic and family favourite. Five years later, a
sequel came around which used the same winning formula and came up with a
creative ghost with the creepy tall guy in the painting, coming to life. For
years, Dan Aykroyd worked his butt off to try and get a Ghostbusters 3 made,
but ran into one problem after another. I think when Harold Ramis, who played
Egon, suddenly passed away in early 2014, Aykroyd put the sequel indefinitely
on hold. Then the director of Bridesmaids swooped in to steal his idea, and in
2016 we’ll be getting a rebooted Ghostbusters with an all female cast. Could be
fun, but let’s wait and see. Sometimes I’m open to reboots/remakes/revamps or
whatever you want to call them, but they’re not always necessarily. Hopefully
the new version pays respect to the original film, which is so admired, revered
and appreciated by so many. I know I’ve watched it more times than I can count,
and no matter what age I am –either kid, teen or adult – it’s still funny and
entertaining.
Who you gonna call?
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