Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

The best Ghostbusters sequel since Part II. Unfortunately, this one involves too many moving parts and not enough focus on the original Ghostbuster crew, which is really all anyone wanted. Still, it's an entertaining picture that strives to bring back what we all loved about the original, even though it feels bloated with one too many storylines and characters (as you can glean from the poster above). I honestly wouldn't mind more films in the series in this vein, although time seems to be running out and the actors aren't getting any younger.

As for the plot, we're back in NYC, and it's cold. That's really all you need to know.

3½ ecto-containment units out of 5

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

Trading in the laughs per minute for a heartwarming family dramedy, Jason Reitman (son of original director Ivan) lovingly constructs his film as a tribute to its fallen star (and original writer) Harold Ramis. As such, it functions as an homage to the entire franchise, even as it essentially resurrects the old Ghostbusters gang (and Gozer) and recycles the plot of the 1984 film. What sets this apart is that it centers around Spengler's legacy and takes place in the quiet countryside rather than the bustling streets of NYC.

At first I was put off by this tone, until I realized there was no way they were ever going to replicate the spirit of the original, so they might as well try something different. Unfortunately, we really miss the presence of the original cast's camaraderie—in particular Bill Murray's wry wit—and this becomes glaringly obvious anytime they appear on screen together. Let's face it; the only reason this film is successful at all is because of the goodwill of the original.

If I could sum it up in even simpler terms, this is the Force Awakens of the Ghostbusters franchise.

3 mini-Pufts out of 5

SAUSAGE PARTY [2016]

Directors Greg Tiernan (Thomas & Friends) and Conrad Vernon (Madagascar) turn to the darkside for the highly offensive, yet atrociously funny animated Sausage Party, written by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg & Jonah Hill.
It's the Fourth of July and all the food products at Shopwell's Grocery Store are excited to get whisked away to a better place...or so they think.  

Try to imagine Toy Story, then replace the toys with food and then humor yourself with the notion of Mr. Potato Head or especially Jessie The Yodeling Cowgirl getting ripped apart and devoured by their owners.  With that in mind, prepare to feel your ears curl up with the language that would make the South Park guys uncomfortable.  Be ready to laugh till your in pain because it's pretty fucking funny, with some cleverly placed themes neatly woven into all the un-PC crudeness.  In short, it's the perfect example of stupid brilliance.  

4 "Great" Beyonds out of 5

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR [2016]

The MCU kicks off Phase 3 with The Russo Brothers' Captain America: Civil War, which is basically the third (and best) Avengers movie yet.
Heavily inspired by Mark Millar's mini-series, the final part of the Cappy America/Bucky Barnes trilogy sees The Avengers' comradery turn sour when the United Nations wants complete control of the team of superheroes.
Kudos to the Russos for managing to keep the film a wild romp of a superhero smackdown but never sacrificing thoughtful subtext or a healthy helping of interesting character arcs.  It's also impressive at how well they manage to juggle such a large ensemble and never once leaving us feel as if we didn't get enough of one character and not the other.  A perfect example of how you can have your costumed characters duke it out something fierce, without getting ridiculously dark, while still keeping it smart and exciting.

4 Bluth stair-cars out of 5

ANT-MAN [2015]

Marvel's final film in their Phase Two series comes in the immensely entertaining form of director Peyton Reed's Ant-Man.
The always likable Paul Rudd is a talented thief who must pull off an intricate burglary with the aid of a suit that shrinks him to the size of, you guessed it, an ant.  The film might be light on substance and makes no attempt to reinvent the wheel but thanks to it's great cast, lightweight humor and dizzying Pixar-esque action sequences, it manages to hold together pretty well.  The movie knows it's a silly concept and it runs with it with flying colors never missing a chance to indulge in it's ridiculousness.  The behind-the-scenes trouble is evident but never detracts from the messy enjoyability of it all.  It takes all the fun of a Saturday morning cartoon, super-sizes it and then shrinks it down into something quite unique.  The New Avengers team is going to be a real breath of fresh air, if this is any indication of what's to come.

3½ web-heads out of 5

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Yet another raunchy Apatow production, this time written by and starring Freaks and Geeks alumnus Jason Segel. Drawn from personal bad break-up experience, his story follows Peter (Segel) as he attempts to escape his split with the beautiful Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), only to end up at the same Hawaiian resort as her and the new boyfriend (Russell Brand). In his directorial debut, former Undeclared writer Nicholas Stoller doesn't stray too far from the Apatow formula with copious amounts of improvisation and maddeningly awkward moments. The editing starts off promising with cuts happening concisely at the climax of each scene, but it quickly degrades into lingering shots of drawn-out ad-libs. While completely entertaining with many quirky characters and imaginative set-ups, it never really produced a particularly unexpected or side-splitting laugh in me.

3 rock operas about Dracula out of 5

PRINCE AVALANCHE [2012]

After two excessively horrible mainstream comedies in a row, director David Gordon Green successfully  returns to his indie-drama roots with Prince Avalanche.
Based upon the Icelandic film Á annan veg, DGG manages to make it seem worthwhile and completely different with a simple setting change and culture, unlike so many other American remakes.  It follows the exact same story of two highway roadworkers lost in isolation as they work in a burnt down forest but by the simple changes it arrives at an entirely different conclusion that is haunting, thoughtful and quite frankly, brilliant.
It's funny, reflective, beautiful and most of all, not at all what it may seem until you really give it some thought afterwards.

4½ flappy-armed orgasms out of 5

Halloween VI: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)

Chucklehead just will not die. He’s back again to murder anyone living in the Myers house that may be very slightly semi-related somehow to somebody somewhere. His first kill was a lot of fun, but things went downhill from there with the introduction of a public fascination with serial killers that sets up some lazy plot advancements.
Loomis, now wizened and retired (and hardly burned), gets most of his scenes cut, along with some babble about a cult that was supposed to explain the Thorn rune. The rune is Purisaz, which does actually represent negative powers and hostility, so that fits.
Elsewhere, they manage to mispronounce Samhain again after getting it wrong in the second film and then correct in the third.
On a sadder note, Donald Pleasence died before the film was released.

1½ syringes out of 5

THIS IS 40 [2012]

Billed as the "sort-of" sequel to 2007's Knocked Up, writer/director Judd Apatow's This Is 40 is a funny and touching comedy about hitting middle age while in a marriage with kids and an "insane" family.  

Gifted with a fantastic charismatic cast, contemplative observations and a heavy dose of funny, the film is unfortunately dragged down by a ridiculously long running time as it wastes it time on a few aimless plot points and minor characters.   In the end, I was left completely satisfied with just being able to laugh for 2 hours and thirteen minutes.  

3½ episodes of LOST out of 5

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER [2012]

Stephen Chbosky adapts his own coming of age novel, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower for the screen with a heartfelt sincerity.

The leading stars are all fantastic with the help from a strong supporting cast, noting Paul Rudd in a wonderful minor role as a high school English teacher.  It's the type of film that could have easily fallen apart with some miscasting or sentimental schmaltz but thankfully it stays true to who the characters are and their realistic reactions to the world around them. Flavored with a healthy dose of early 90's music and cultural references, the film is a constant reminder as my days as an outcast teenager struggling to find a comfortable spot among some sort of social circle. 

4 mix tapes out of 5

WANDERLUST [2012]

After the surprisingly funny Role Models I expected director David Wain's Wanderlust to supply some good chuckles as well.  

Feck, was I ever wrong.  It had a few funny moments but mostly fell trap to overly long and awkward moments that tried too hard to be weird or outlandish.  This would be a perfect example of why I dislike the majority of comedy films today.  

Utter trash.

1 penguin with testicular cancer out of 5

Clueless (1995)

This is a movie that will always be elevated by my own nostalgia, but I still think it's pretty good for what it is.  Cher is too obviously ditzy and most of its cast is underdeveloped, but there's some genuinely great dialogue here, and it's one of the better modern adaptations of a classic I've seen.

It's not as smart as some of Amy Heckerling's other films, but it's not as dumb as its leading characters often are. The fictional slang is especially well crafted. If you can get past the annoying tendencies of the leads and the fact that the love interests are former step-siblings, it's a pretty fun movie. Paul Rudd will forever make me swoon.

3 virgins who can't drive out of 5.

ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY [2004]

If not for Will Ferrell, I'm sure director Adam McKay wouldn't have much of a career. Their first outing together, apart from Saturday Night Live, the tongue in cheek comedy Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy was a successful one at the box office.
Apart from a few good chuckles and some great performances from Fred Willard, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and Dave Koechner, Anchorman is nothing more than a few boner jokes, "witty" new ways to degrade women, jabs at the mentally disabled and douchebags being douchebags only to praised for it by both the film's characters and audiences alike.

1 flaming jazz flute out of 5

I LOVE YOU, MAN [2009]

I Love You, Man is a bromance comedy starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel as the bonding bros whose camaraderie carries the whole film.
It's a predictable formula and a bit of a mess at times but provides enough smiles and light chuckles to win the heart over by the end. I didn't find myself laughing out loud as often as I expected to but the chemistry between the two leads held my attention and heart for the duration of the film.
It's a film that's easy to pick apart but hard not to like.

3 Hulk smashes out of 5

ROLE MODELS [2008]

I tend to not like many comedies so this came as a very pleasant surprise.
Paul Rudd and Sean William Scott take the title roles as the Role Models who are ordered to enroll in a Big Brother program to avoid jail time.
The story is predictable and we all know exactly how it's going to end but the solid cast and believable characters provide enough laughs to keep you smiling right up until the end.
What else can I say? It's pretty damned funny.

...and it's the only time I've ever felt like cheering for KISS.

3½ cans of nuclear horse piss out of 5

Our Idiot Brother (2011)

I went in expecting "Dinner For Schmucks" and ended up with a piece of goddamn shit dribbling out of a half-open asshole. I wanted to slash my fucking wrists, this movie was so inane. It's all about a guy who is good natured and tries hard to do the right thing, but always ends up a fuck-up. Sounds fucking familiar to me. Paul Rudd is charming as his hippie character, the movie just isn't very good.

1.5 turds out of 5