Ghostbusters

Ghostbusters

Starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson

Directed by Ivan Reitman

The Story:
Friends Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) are parapsychologists who are called to investigate a haunting at a library.  They begin their own paranormal investigation company called "Ghostbusters" and are recruited by Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) after discovering a portal in her refrigerator and a demon known as Zuul.

As the number of paranormal activity increases, the Ghostbusters hire Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) to keep up with demand, and soon learn that there's a connection to the increase in paranormal events and the mysterious Zuul - the coming of Gozer, a Sumerian god of destruction - which will bring about the end of the world.

The Synopsis:
"Ghostbusters" is one of those quintessential 80s movies, one of those that has withstood the test of time and is still hailed and valued as a piece of cinematic history over thirty years later.  It not only spawned a sequel, but also a collection of video games, Saturday morning cartoons, as well as an all-female reboot in 2016.  It's a rare film that balances action, horror and comedy in a way that it doesn't skew any one way in particular, but rather acts like a three-person seesaw, in which each side is evenly balanced.

Ivan Reitman was one of the best comedic directors of the 80s and early 90s, gifting screens with the likes of "Stripes," "Twins," "Kindergarten Cop," "Dave" and "Junior," and "Ghostbusters" is his crowning achievement.  He was able to direct a story that was not only funny, but also at times downright terrifying, and also produce some top-notch effects (so much so the film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Visual Effects, losing to "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom") that still resonate today. 

The film also features some of the 80s biggest comedic actors, including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson and Rick Moranis who deliver knockout performances while mostly improvising their dialogue (Bill Murray in particular ad-libbed most of his lines).  The chemistry between the seasoned actors flowed so well they didn't miss a beat, and not only was it simply funny, but there was a deeper, quick-witted feel to it as they delivered zingers to one another with lightning-quick precision that requires another viewing because you missed some because you were laughing too hard at what they said earlier.  The film also features Sigourney Weaver in a rare comedic role (she was previously known for her career-defining role as Ripley in "Alien"), and she managed to pull it off perfectly, especially when she was paired with Moranis as her geeky, short, unintelligent next-door-neighbor who harbored a not-so-secret crush on her.

As far as the story (written by Aykroyd and Ramis) goes, it's your normal flair: supernatural beings invade our world in hopes of taking it over.  It's not the story that's so endearing, but how it was portrayed that gave it an enduring quality.  No other set of actors could've pulled off what Murray, Aykroyd and Ramis did, and that's the reason why it's still a critical mainstay to this day.

The cultural impact the movie has is one of its main selling points, and a reason why it's on several critics' lists of films to see before you die.  When someone mentions Slimer (who actually didn't get a name until the animated series), the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man or Ecto-1, you immediately think of this classic 80s gem, but the film is also known for some of its easily repeatable quotes, most often (and most often improvised) by Murray: "Dogs and cats living together!"  "This chick is toast!" Then there's the Ray Parker Jr. theme song of the same name that not only sat at number one for three weeks, but was also Oscar-nominated for Best Song and one that's as memorable today as the theme song to "Fresh Prince of Bel Air."  Whenever someone asks, "Who you gonna call," you already know the answer. 

The Summary:
Blending action, comedy and horror in equal measure, "Ghostbusters" is one of those genre-bending films that has withstood the test of time and is still highly regarded today as it was over thirty years ago, thanks to a solid script, top-notch effects and especially the cast of seasoned, comedic actors.

The Score: A+