★★
There’s a parallel universe in which audiences didn’t sleep on Paul Feig’s genre-bending film. ghost hunters to restart. Misogyny does not exist on this spectral plane. Inevitably, the female “busters” would have already united with the original gang, in a nostalgic porn sequel, but the one from 2021 Life after death would never have happened. Thinking about what could have been. Instead, here is Frozen Empire, a fair but widely requested fifth entry in a franchise that has struggled to prove itself more than the sum of its theme. Apologies, fourth entrance. In this universe, the powers that be continue to want to act as if 2016 never happened (don’t we all?). A return to New York puts the nail in Feig’s coffin here.
To his honor, Frozen Empire is a less maudlin affair than it was Life after death. There’s still a whiff of pointlessness, but co-writers Ivan Reitman and Gil Kenan, who takes on directorial duties, do well to remember the lack of fun and the abject stupidity. That’s not to say their script is actually good – truly original thinking remains a foreign concept to the duo – but you can’t go too far wrong with possessed pizzas, wacky gadgets and a fit Kumail Nanijani. Frozen Empire he even feels real chills. It’s a strong opening act that culminates with a frozen fist still winding a gramophone after its frozen owner’s arm is amputated. Brrr.
Somewhat disingenuously, this scene takes place a century earlier than the rest of the film. Better not to question. Fast forward to the here and now and it’s all happening in Manhattan. The iconic Ecto-1, piloted by probably Paul Rudd-ish Gary Grooberson, is hot on the scales as the sewer dragon of Hell’s Kitchen. Carrie Coon’s Callie pilots a drone to her left, while the third-generation Spenglers — Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) — wield proton packs from the rear. They catch the scarer but at a price. Former EPA inspector, now mayor, Walter Peck (William Atherton) wants the whole operation shut down…again. Something about infrastructural responsibility.
It’s a smart move that keeps Grace front and center the second time around. Phoebe was by far the best debutante in Life after death and the rest here. When Peck has her kicked off the team, for reasons of age, Phoebe is drawn into a path of metaphysical questioning, alongside a scintillating Dan Akroyd, whose old spark Ray Stantz has not lost. He is semi-retired but the emphasis is on semi-retired: “This is how I want to spend my golden years, this is what I love.” Ernie Hudson and Annie Potts are also enjoying returns, albeit with smaller roles, while Bill Murray could hardly seem less interested in reprising Venkman if he tried. If Murray’s zingers looked lame on the page, they died on delivery.
Truth be told, there’s a little too much going on here for the good of the film. Too much and not enough meaning. Certainly, Frozen Empire suffers from some truly frightening leaps of logic, not to mention the odd macabre plot hole. This is akin to a story written around a series of preconceived settings; visual ideas associated with a point-to-point narrative. Surely that also explains the rote villain? A familiar skeleton with glowing blue eyes and the ability to conjure ice just because… Wouldn’t New York look really cool – ahem – frozen?! They weren’t wrong, it’s true.
Of course, it’s not enough to look cool. While a large part of Frozen Empire at first glance, it’s just a chaotic veneer on a substance that lacks exactly that. Substance. You could say Reitman and Kenan’s toy box lands heavily on thin ice. Maybe they’ll get through it this time, but there won’t be any mileage. An icy foe might find itself defeated today, but the reception will only get colder from here on out.
T.S.