Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Review - 4 Ups & 6 Downs

3. The Nostalgia-Bait Is Toned Down (Sort Of)

By far the biggest criticism of Afterlife is that it over-indulged in fawning nostalgia for the franchise's past, enough that despite the probably earnest intent of filmmaker Jason Reitman, it came off as cynically cashing in on decades of love for the IP.

And to Frozen Empire's very mild credit, he appears to have somewhat listened to the vocal complaints, for while this sequel is still awash in nods and references to the first two films in particular, it does feel more comfortably massaged into the overall framework of the movie.

While Afterlife treated even basic props and images from the original films with an almost self-parodying sanctity, Frozen Empire isn't nearly as precious or sentimental about it.

Sure, it eventually goes overboard with the groan-worthy return of the original film's iconic library ghost, but Slimer's cameo is mildly amusing, and overall it feels a little less like it's desperately leaning on the series' past.

The fact that the movie's mid-credits scene doesn't tease yet another legacy villain - namely, Vigo the Carpathian - basically passes for restraint at this point.