Ghostbusters Review: 6 Ups And 4 Downs

Well, this is a nice little surprise. Ghostbusters, the movie sexists have been hating for the better part of two years that got down-votes galore and even has online critics refusing to review it, is good. Nothing special, but a solid, fun, creepy summer flick. It’s fine guys. It’s fine.

Considering that summer 2016 has thus far been a major disappointment (after Captain America: Civil War most big releases have been dead on arrival), getting a film that manages to be genuinely entertaining in spite of its faults is a breath of fresh air. There's a lightness of touch here and an understanding of what an action-comedy needs be that more po-faced contemporaries have missed.

Make no mistakes - there are problems with Ghostbusters that mean it won't have the longevity of the original (and will give anybody looking to hate it enough fuel to do so), but they fade into insignificance next to what it gets right on a character and thematic level. Here's six ups and four downs from Ghostbusters.

Bonus Down - The New Theme

Right, before we get to the real downs here’s an iffy one – the new theme. Oh god, it’s terrible. Why they got 2016 Fall Out Boy I do not know, but it’s somehow more grating that you’d even expect. It’s telling that before the UK press screening they played the Ray Parker, Jr. version on a loop.

But, thankfully, this ear-bleeder is barely in the film – the only bit that plays is the most palatable twenty seconds over a montage. Dodged a proton bullet there.