Ghostbusters

1984

Starring: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts, David Marguiles, and William Atherton

Written by: Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis

Directed by: Ivan Reitman

I have this sad feeling about the state of the world. I feel that if Ghostbusters came out now it would be an absolute flop in the adult market. While it’s silly, bizarre, and even childish at times it has one thing I don’t see to often in films these days. A sense of fun. You can tell everyone involved had a blast filming the movie and there is a genuine camradare between everyone. It’s kind of like a mainstream Kevin Smith type of movie.

What makes the film work is it’s undercurrent of sarcasm. And that is portrayed no better than in one character. Bill Murray’s Dr. Peter Venkman. I have a friend who will argue forever that Murray’s role as Carl Spackler in Caddyshack is greater but for me Venkman is Murray’s ultimate role. I have never seen a film that I laugh at just about every line has. It’s all in the delivery and the expression (or sometimes lack of expression), and Murray has it in spades.

In addition of Murray (though if this were a solo venture I think it still could have been successful), Ramis and Aykroyd do their best to back him up with their very idiosyncratic characters – clearly happy to let Murray shine while they pop out once in awhile with a great reading.

Sigourney Weaver is nothing special as the leading woman but she is not a detriment either while Moranis and Potts shine in their understated roles. Ernie Hudson also adds some great moments as the fourth Ghostbuster and I wish they had given him a bit more. In fact it was good to hear that Bill Murray would only agree to do a third Ghostbusters if Hudson’s character was given equal standing with the other three.

The film is chock full of one liner after one liner until the over the top climactic finale involving the first movie character my three year old son has become obsessed with. The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Movies work in mysterious ways.

Ivan Reitman had a knack back in the day for letting what worked just do it’s thing. He doesn’t seem to try to hard to produce a vision, merely works with the cast and crew and allow the vision to find them…and it works.

And at the end of the film who isn’t singing Ray Parker Jr.’s classic Ghostbusters’ theme? A classic film on just about every level even if it doesn’t have “something to say”. It’s content to make the viewer laugh over and over again…and after twenty-five years it remains as funny as the first viewing I got in the theaters.

If I ever get around to really getting into some projects, I have a feeling this film might win most quotable film.

“Ray, when someone asks you if you’re a god, you say ‘YES’! ”
“Let’s show this prehistoric bitch how we do things downtown… THROW IT!”
“Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together… mass hysteria!”
“NOBODY steps on a church in my town!”
“That’s a big Twinkie.”
“I love this plan! I’m excited to be a part of it! LET’S DO IT!”
“And the flowers are still standing!”
“What did you DO, Ray?”

If I don’t stop I’ll need a new page just for GB quotes!

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