Classic!

Rating: 9/10 (30 March 2009)

Some of the most memorable characters in comedy were created by Saturday Night Live legends Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. Ghostbusters was the second time Murray teamed up with SCTV writer Harold Ramis, and combined with Aykroyd, they made a comedy classic that still holds up well today. Kids who grew up in the 80's remember the Ghostbusters mania that swept the nation. My brother had all the toys, and I think we still have the Ghostbusters fire house model in our attic. It is even popular with young kids today.
Murray, Ramis, and Aykroyd play a group of paranormal scientists whose theories and experiments are looked down upon in the Academic world. Murray plays Peter Venkman, the sarcastic member of the trio. Ramis is Egon Spengler, a dead serious yet hilarious scientist. Aykroyd is the closest thing to a straight man but he has an almost childlike enthusiasm for his job that makes him amusing. After they see a ghost for the first time, their University terminates their grant, and they are forced to go into business for themselves. Just when it looks like they are about to go bankrupt, ghost fever grips New York City, and they become huge celebrities. Funny supporting cast members include Rick Moranis of SCTV fame, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts, and Ernie Hudson as Winston, the fourth Ghostbuster. Eddie Murphy was originally considered for the role of Winston, but I'm glad he turned it down. 80's Eddie Murphy was hilarious, but it would have been too much to have another comedy giant in the cast, especially when he's introduced so late into the picture.
Ghostbusters had great special effects for its time; I must say even today's computer animation could not do much better. Memorable ghosts include Slimer, who got his own TV show, and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. The film's main strength and the cause of its lasting appeal is the cast, however. Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis form a terrific ensemble cast and are some of the most memorable characters in comedy. The deadpan delivery of the jokes amongst the absurdity is hilarious. Just a sample of a great joke: "Why worry? Each one of us is wearing an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back." The film has a cynical New Yorker attitude that makes the film even more endearing, and funny when you consider that half the film was made in California. In one of my favorite scenes, Rick Moranis is attacked by a demon, and all the witnesses just go back to eating their food when it's over. There are too many good one-liners and jokes to mention, and the writers take great pride in turning "slime" into a verb! Ghostbusters spawned one sequel, several cartoon series, and video games (a new Ghostbusters game is coming out soon), but none of them has been or will be as memorable as the first movie.