Ghostbusters

Well, I just saw this today. Here are my brief NO SPOILERS thoughts:

I don’t mean to bash it, I know there are some people that really love the new Ghostbusters movie, and that’s great, but it didn’t connect to me at all. While I was watching it, I wished I had a watch so I could be checking the time left till I was free. I was very tempted to get up and walk out. I didn’t hate it, I was just bored. Neither the plot nor the characters grabbed me.

Also, I didn’t laugh. Once.

It felt very much like a Paul Feig movie, not a Ghostbusters movie. If you like Paul Feig movies, you’ll probably like this one. I’ve never connected with his material, and this movie was no exception. I was really rooting for it, though. I’m a child of the 80s and I’ve been waiting for a continuation of the Ghostbusters universe for a long time.

This movie didn’t “feel” like Ghostbusters, though. Tonally, it felt of a piece with “Spy” and “The Heat”. Other Paul Feig movies. It’s not that I hate the ad lib style of comedy filmmaking — I quite like Judd Apatow movies, for example, however predictable they are — but I have to admit to a certain fondness for scripted comedy. Where there are actual jokes, set ups and punchlines.

Of course, your mileage may vary, and that’s great. I’m something of a grumpy old man, I admit, and if you liked the movie, I’m happy for you.

Personally, I’m hoping for a sequel, just like I’m hoping for a sequel to Tarzan. I didn’t like either movie, but I like the root properties, and maybe they’ll get it right next time with a different writer and director.