If there’s one thing that studios should have learned from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, it’s that less is more. With anticipation so high for the new Episode, we were given almost nothing of it before it hit theaters. That’s smart — trailers are often misleading (though Force Awakens’ were very specifically crafted and great), and it’s easy to speculate positively or negatively when you’re only shown a few clips out of context. With Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters, the same is true — a reboot of a beloved franchise brings with it its own set of expectations and speculations.
Though the negativity towards the new film regarding the gender of the cast is completely unearned, it isn't a good thing that what we’ve seen so far has felt vibrantly cartoonish and not very funny. Will we see things differently once we get the context of the whole movie? It’s possible. But in the meantime, Sony is not doing itself any favors by giving us pieces to check out that aren’t particularly encouraging.
This first clip features the main cast — Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones — trying out some new tech that McKinnon’s Jillian has developed, including a “ghost chipper” and a proton glove. It’s odd that the tech is being tested out in an alley somewhere, but so be it. (Also, I can never hear McKinnon anymore without imagining her as Hillary Clinton, which makes things even weirder). Check out the clip below:
Personally, Leslie Jones is really standing out for me as carrying the humor in this, though the quartet in general is a good combination of comedic personalities. I love the idea of an all-female reboot, but I just hope that the flow of the story and the writing are better in context than they have been in the trailers and clip so far.
Ghostbusters also stars Chris Hemsworth, Andy Garcia, Michael K. Williams, Matt Walsh, and Neil Casey. Check out more of our recently coverage below:
- July Box Office Predictions: Will ‘Ghostbusters’ Hit Blockbuster Numbers?
- Watch the ‘Ghostbusters’ Cast Reveal New Proton Packs, Other Gadgets
- Japanese Cover of Ray Parker Jr.’s ‘Ghostbusters’ Theme Song Will Make You Feel Good
- ‘Ghostbusters': Listen to Fall Out Boy & Missy Elliott’s Not-So-Great Theme Song “I’m Not Afraid”
Here’s the official synopsis:
Thirty years after the original film took the world by storm, Ghostbusters is back and fully rebooted for a new generation. Director Paul Feig combines all the paranormal fighting elements that made the original franchise so beloved with a cast of new characters, played by the funniest actors working today. Get ready to watch them save the world this summer!
