★★★★☆Whether young or old, the 1984 classic Ghostbusters – directed by Ivan Reitman and starring Bill Murray (seemingly confirmed for the upcoming Ghostbusters 3 on IMDb), Sigourney Weaver and Dan Aykroyd – will always be enjoyable viewing. Rereleased in cinemas across the country this Halloween weekend, countless kids of the 80s will be able to relive their childhood and enjoy Peter, Ray, Egon and Winston don their proton packs and do battle with a gaggle of ghouls across New York City. For those unfamiliar with the story (there must be someone, somewhere), three unemployed parapsychology professors decide to set up a company that offers the unique service of removing ghosts for a price.
Ghostbusters successfully retains its enjoyable quality, even after viewing it outside from the simplicity of youth where one is easily pleased. The plot, performances and humour really hold up, and you may well find yourself muttering that clichéd line “They don’t make ’em like that any more”. Bill Murray stands out as a great comic actor, aided tremendously by the goofy Dan Aykroyd. This is light-hearted, enjoyable family viewing at its very best. Its rerelease is clearly aimed at the retro market wishing to hark back to the days of their childhood, whilst also helping to create some hype for the new, upcoming movie.
Watching Ghostbusters once again on the big screen, it’s clear to see why this was one of the most financially successful films of the 1980s. The special effects are dated, with oodles of slime (or ectoplasm for those in the trade) and a suspiciously inauthentic 100-foot Stay-Puffed marshmallow man, yet this is by-the-by – Reitman’s film is all about the comedy. Ghostbusters is simply good-hearted fun, packed with witty dialogue, great performances and a number of classic scenes etched into millions of psyches across the world.
