Film Review: ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’: This One’s for the Kids, and the Kids Are Alright

PG-13 | 2h 4m | Comedy, Drama, Adventure | November 19, 2021

“Ghostbusters: Next Generation“ would have been a better title, since ”Ghostbusters: Afterlife“ features the grandkids of the original Ghostbusters inheriting the legacy. The kids master the decrepit but still functional ghost-gear and save the world that is, yet again, beset by demons and ghosts. Call it a love letter to the original movie, directed by the kid of the original director (Jason Reitman, son of Ivan). Ivan Reitman directed and produced the two 1980s ”Ghostbusters” movies.

Nostalgia

Completely ignoring the 2016 all-female “Ghostbusters” reboot, the latest installment hammers on the nostalgia key and, having much in common with “The Goonies” (1985) and “Stand by Me” (1986), does a decent job of that.