Ghostbusters: Less Good Than it Should Be

Rating: 7/10 (2 March 2010)

Hardly needing any sort of introduction, Ghostbusters is a classic film which is celebrated as one of the best known and most loved comedies in film history.
For those exceptional few of you who aren't aware, it's about a team of three college psychology professors who, when they're thrown out of their jobs, establish a business hunting down and capturing ghosts together. A strange ancient legend comes to bear and the laughs roll off amidst the action.
It's not hard to see the lasting appeal of this film, the many quirky lines coming primarily from the ever wonderful Bill Murray. There's plenty of jostling and joking between the Ghostbusters, the Murray/Aykroyd dynamic being particularly effective. Although the jokes are effective, and the laughs are certainly many, there's something lacking in the film and I found myself somewhat disappointed in the face of this imposing legacy. It's not that it's a bad film, certainly not, there aren't even a huge number of flaws. The humour works well, and there are little to no jokes which fail entirely. That said, it feels less good than it should be. Perhaps, my time rather after Ghostbusters', it's just that bit too dated to be particular appealing to my comedy tastes. The problem lies primarily in the nature of the laughs; none entirely memorable or strong. Not once was I struggling for breath, more chuckling lightly at the funny but never hilarious dialogue. Additionally, Murray's upfront affection always seemed very strange to me, though this impacts little on the film.
Though graced with clever writing, rapid-fire dialogue, and fine acting, Ghostbusters simply seems lacking, and the majority of the jokes are more smileworthy than laughworthy. Perfectly good for a chuckle though.