Ghostbusters: Afterlife Review: 5 Ups & 5 Downs

3. It Packs An Unexpected Emotional Punch

All but the most skeptical of viewers will probably be won over at least a little by the film's climax, which offers up a dew-eyed tribute to the original Ghostbusters with a particular focus on Egon, given that Harold Ramis is sadly no longer with us.

Not every decision made here will work for everyone, but its gambles pay off more than they don't, and should ensure most fans are left emotionally gratified by the near-literal passing of the torch (or in this case, proton pack).

It's a shame the film can't let things lie in sunsetting the O.G. Ghostbusters and wrapping the series up, but at least there's an earnestness to Reitman's clear affection for the series which helps melt away some of the more cynical calculations (but certainly not all of them).

If this is the last we see of the legacy characters it'd be a fitting enough exit, even if many understandably hoped they might play a bigger part in the story.