Erin Gilbert: Kristin Wiig
Abby Yates: Melissa McCarthy
Jillian Holtzman: Kate McKinnon
Patty Tolan: Leslie Jones
Rowan North: Neil Casey
Kevin: Chris Hemsworth
Columbia Pictures presents a
film directed by Paul Feig. Written by Kate Dippold & Feig. Based on the
1984 movie by Ivan Reitman, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. Running time: 116
min. Rated PG-13 (for supernatural action and some crude humor).
The new reboot of the
“Ghostbusters” franchise comes with a load of baggage, mostly having to do with
the quite progressive idea of recasting the lead characters as women instead of
men. I’ve never seen a beloved franchise so maligned by advance anti-buzz as
this film. I’m a big believer in seeing the movie before forming an opinion
about it. I guess it goes to show you how little progress we’ve made in this
country in terms of equality that so many people have an issue with female
heroes. People even criticized the editing of the first trailer as a negative
point to avoid the fact that they were upset that their franchise had lost a Y
chromosome. I’ve never seen the editing of a trailer criticized before. First
trailers are usually poorly edited because they’re trying to tell a story
before all the filming and effects have been completed.
Anyway, I think it is
wonderful that this franchise was taken over by women. It is a great step
forward to see women depicted as heroes while remaining women, instead of
becoming over-sexualized props for the men they accompany. The main cast is
wonderful. The Ghostbusters are just as iconic portrayed here by Kristin Wiig,
Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon. They’re funny. They’re
capable. They aren’t “real” because they exist in a fantasy, special effects laden
universe of the paranormal; but they are women, with thoughts and actions
unique to them and not existing in the service of men or even necessarily the
plot of the movie. The new Ghostbusters are a shining example of where women in
mainstream entertainment should be.
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