Ghostbusters: Legacy - A Nostalgic Trip Back to the 80s
SummerVille, Oklahoma, is a town that feels like a blend of Gravity Falls and Stephen King’s Derry. It’s the kind of place where you might find a quirky grandfather with a basement full of secrets, but some mysteries are best left buried, lest they unleash a new wave of nightmares. In Ghostbusters: Legacy, Callie (Carrie Coon) inherits her estranged father’s dilapidated farmhouse, complete with its own share of skeletons and an eerie, Edgar Allan Poe-esque vibe. Moving to this forgotten corner of the world with her son Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and daughter Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), she soon discovers that strange things are afoot – the dead aren’t staying dead, and earthquakes are happening with alarming regularity.
Mckenna Grace as Phoebe in “Ghostbusters: Legacy”
A Legacy Reborn
The Ghostbusters franchise has expanded far beyond its original roots, encompassing sequels, animated series, books, and even a much-maligned all-female reboot. However, Legacy feels different, primarily because Jason Reitman is at the helm. Known for his heartfelt films like Juno and Tully (written by Diablo Cody), Reitman is also the son of Ivan Reitman, the director of the original Ghostbusters films. This lineage, subtly hinted at in the title, becomes the film’s driving force, shaping its tone and approach in a way that feels both respectful and refreshing.
Paul Rudd as Mr. Grooberson in “Ghostbusters: Legacy”
A Love Letter to the Past
In an era saturated with reboots, remakes, and legacy sequels, Ghostbusters: Legacy understands its place in the pantheon of beloved franchises. It doesn’t strive to reinvent the wheel, but rather to serve as a heartfelt tribute. This film is a love letter not only to the original Ghostbusters but also to the era that spawned it. With its nostalgic atmosphere and familiar tropes, Legacy evokes the spirit of classic family films like Casper, Jumanji, and The Goonies, the movies that defined the childhoods of millennials and the director himself.
Scene from “Ghostbusters: Legacy”
Respectful Nostalgia
Jason Reitman approaches the source material with both love and reverence, avoiding the pitfalls of excessive fan service and blatant repetition. The original Ghostbusters quartet only makes an appearance towards the film’s climax (spoiler alert – but it won’t ruin the experience!), and the most overt references are cleverly tucked away after the credits, a playful wink to the audience. The film also embraces practical effects, complementing the CGI with tangible props and gadgets. The familiar proton packs, ghost traps, and self-moving chess pieces all contribute to the film’s immersive atmosphere. The narrative justification for revisiting this universe is almost secondary: ghosts are among us, simply dormant, awaiting the next apocalypse.
Mckenna Grace as Phoebe in “Ghostbusters: Legacy”
A Family Affair
Unsurprisingly, the film’s central conflict revolves around the complex relationships between parents and children. As Callie struggles to forgive her estranged father, the brilliant but eccentric Dr. Spengler, her daughter Phoebe feels an increasingly strong connection to her grandfather, who seems to communicate with her from beyond the grave through a flickering table lamp. It is Phoebe, rather than Trevor (played by Finn Wolfhard), who emerges as the film’s protagonist. This awkward, geeky girl possesses not only a knack for science but also a dry wit and a collection of quirky jokes. Mckenna Grace’s undeniable charm, combined with the film’s sense of adventure and summer vacation freedom, makes Ghostbusters: Legacy a genuinely endearing experience for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
Giant, gluttonous ghosts snack on fire hydrants, classmates avoid the dilapidated farmhouse, and Paul Rudd, as the endearingly goofy summer school teacher Mr. Grooberson, pops in Cujo on VHS. Reitman has created a world that is both inviting and nostalgic, a far cry from the slime-soaked New York City of the 1980s.
Ultimately, your enjoyment of Ghostbusters: Legacy will depend on your expectations. The less you anticipate, the more likely you are to find it a delightful escape from the November blues. It’s a lighthearted, mischievous, and sentimental film, perfect for audiences of all ages. The final dedication, “For Harold” (a tribute to Harold Ramis, who played Spengler and passed away in 2014), is sure to bring a tear to the eye of even the most skeptical viewer.