Ghostbusters Review: 6 Ups And 4 Downs

Ups:

6. The Recasting Works

Tackling the major issue head-on, these new ‘Busters are good. The characters fit the broad archetypes of the original, but with enough new stuff in each to be memorable by themselves. The actual personalities could have been more fleshed out – especially Melissa McCarthy, who is just playing herself – but the actresses are so likeable that you’re with them through the adventure.

It's refreshing that they don't lean into cliché. McCarthy's evolved from the fat schtick, the race card is played much less with Leslie Jones' Patty than feared (it's there, but her arc has a bit more too it) and Wiig can be both serious professor and smitten schoolgirl (which can admittedly get a bit annoying when the film's trying to move forward).

The stand-out, and most immersive, is Kate McKinnon, who is a ball of eccentric energy as the team’s techy Holtzman. She doesn’t get many belly-laughs and her jargon waffling is irritating rather than endearing, but it’s such a constantly off-kilter performance you’ll be chuckling along.