We just saw a hot new trailer for Ghostbusters (embedded below) , and it’s shaping up to be a must-see flick this summer. The trailer kicks things into nostalgia overload right away. The iconic Ghostbusters theme trickles slowly from a piano as we’re reminded of what first transpired 30 years ago. The wording is slightly ambiguous, and may seem to imply that this is some kind of sequel centered around a new team, but that’s not the case. This is a reboot through and through, and director and co-writer Paul Feig said that he didn’t like the idea of taking new characters and simply handing them the technology. Feig was present at the trailer preview event in California Wednesday, where he spoke to fans and press about his love for this property.
“I really have such a love for this property,” he said, “and what I really wanted to do was to bring it for a new generation. To give a new generation their own team… This is such an amazing franchise that had two amazing movies, but it could just keep going… It seemed terrible to just leave it in a box.” This is the new Ghostbusters for a new generation, and that’s something that long-time fans are going to have to remember going into theaters. Through the trailer we get a very clear sense that Feig has taken the comedic, spoofy horror formula that worked so well in the original movies and labored to preserve that same vibe with a new cast, facing new challenges, with new gear.
Ultimately, it will be the chemistry between our four new leads that determines the failure or success of the film. The original Ghostbusters just couldn’t have been the hit that it was without the banter between Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and the rest of the crew. Our reboot here seems to have a pretty strong cast, and though a few of the actresses I don’t typically care for personally, I can’t deny that they seem to have a pretty natural and amusing chemistry on screen. Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig particularly seem to play well off of one another as we see them awkwardly but enthusiastically talking over themselves about a minute and a half into the trailer.
We know for sure that three out of four of these ladies will have a natural chemistry, as all of them besides McCarthy share a comedic bond through their work on Saturday Night Live. As their comedic careers are based largely around sketch-based and improv comedy, I’m wondering how much (if any) of the dialogue and banter between them was improvised. Sometimes that can work really well in a comedy or romantic comedy, but in a movie where a lot of the draw is to the thrills and story, you generally like more structure. From what I can tell from the trailer this won’t be an issue.
With such a diverse cast, I’m hoping that each character is fully fleshed out. The trailer definitely gives us our first-impressions for each character, and they do come off as fresh, but maybe a little stereotypical as well. Paranormal investigator Abby Yates (McCarthy) is the enthusiastic, faithful front-woman holding the team together and eager to solve the case. Erin Gilbert (Wiig) is the brains, level-headed and awkward. Jillian Hotzmann (McKinnon) is a devil-may-care nuclear engineer with a dark sense of humor; she creates the team’s tech and exudes a flippancy and confidence throughout the trailer that’s fun to watch. Patty Tolan is the average Jane with a heart for the city and a nose for adventure. I’m hoping Leslie Jones’ role isn’t reduced to the Hollywood-typical loud, black, comedic relief, but I’m getting a hint of that from the trailer. Then again, as one fan pointed out, like McCarthy, Jones is an actress that is pretty much known for playing one type of character, and she does it well.
In true Ghostbusters fashion, the ghouls and effects come off in a slightly cartoony way, but also grim and frightening. Overall it looks like it should be a lot of fun. There was certainly no lack of passion from the director in making this film. While it’s certainly different, it sounds like fans will owe it to themselves to check it out. “You know the things you love the most, “ Feig says. “Let’s just say that most of them show up in one way or another. Hopefully in a way that will be surprising and what you won’t expect.” Check it out for yourself when Ghostbusters hits the big screen July 15, and if you missed it, you can watch the trailer right here: