GHOSTBUSTERS II *** (out of five stars) A review by Jamey Hughton
Starring-Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts and Peter MacNicol Director-Ivan Reitman Rated PG Released 1989 Sony Reviewed 1999
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Ghostbusters still stands the test of time. The original is one of my favorite films, mainly because: a) the jokes never get old; b) the special effects and story-line remain interesting; and c) Bill Murray delivers one of the finest comedic performances ever caught on the silver screen. Ghostbusters II, the long-awaited continuation released five years afterward, has been dismissed as yet another sequel that didn't live up to the original. But how could it? It must have been an incredibly difficult task when Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis reunited and attempted to duplicate the success of their first script. Ghostbusters II is devoid of most of the clever details that made the first such a complete joy, but it still manages to entertain with an amiable charm.
The four Ghostbusters - Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stanz (Dan Aykroyd), Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) and Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) - have separated, and chosen their individual paths. Peter, although attaining his sarcastic and bitter tone, now hosts a cheesy and low-rent TV series entitled `World of the Psychic'. Ray, when not working at his Occult book shop, assists Winston in entertaining kids at birthday parties (even though the groups yearn for He-Man). Egon conducts tests involving human emotions and the effects of stress. The group is reunited when Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver), the possessed apartment dweller from the first, asks them to investigate a strange occurrence involving her 8-month old baby and a runaway carriage.
They discover, after some illegal drilling, that a huge river of slime is flowing under the city. Not only that, but there is also a demonic painting at the city museum containing a deceased Carpathian god who wants to join the party. The Ghostbusters once again team up, with the help of their prickly secretary Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts) and taxing accountant Louis Tully (Rick Moranis), to save New York and attempt to cause less damage than their first heroic stand.
Ghostbusters II is not particularly well-written. Things that were clever and engaging in the first film seem occasionally forced and silly when attempted here. With most of the fresh ghostbusting gags used up, there is a lot of squandered opportunities. However, there are still some funny lines scattered about. Murray still manages to shine even in the absence of great material, and the film is single-handedly saved by the performances. I enjoyed the directions chosen for Moranis' character, and Peter MacNicol is very funny as an eccentric art guru who works at the museum.
Those who enjoyed the original may be disappointed by the sequel's apparent lack of freshness. Ramis and Aykroyd have attempted to rehash the finale from the first, replacing the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man (a classic) with the Statue of Liberty walking through the streets of New York. Of course, little in Ghostbusters II ever reaches the brilliance of the film that preceded it, but most of the paranormal hijinks succeed in entertaining the viewer. The plot is pretty ridiculous (mood slime?) and poorly assembled, but not everything here is a total bust. Some of the banter between Ray and Egon is even quirkier than in Ghostbusters, as when they tie everything together: Ray - Do you think there is some relation between this Vigo character and the slime? Egon - Is the atomic weight of Cobalt 58.9? (If you're confused, that means `yes'.)
It is a lesser sequel, that's definite, but it remains an entertaining alternative. There are surely worse things to do then revisit this story of a group of paranormal exterminators and their adventures in ghostbusting. It certainly doesn't make you loathe the entire existence of Ghostbusters, but encourages you to appreciate the original even more, while reviving some great childhood memories in the process.
(C) 1999, Jamey Hughton
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