1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Ghostbusters

#739- Ghostbusters (1984)
Starring: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver
Directed by: Ivan Reitman


Plot Summary: Peter Venkman, Raymond Stantz and Egon Spengler are a group of parapsychologists who have recently lost their jobs at Columbia University. After their first encounter with a ghost, the trio establishes a new paranormal exterminator business in an abandoned firehouse, called "Ghostbusters." With more ghosts showing up around New York City, the trio adds Winston Zeddemore as their fourth member, just in time for the Ghostbusters to prepare for their biggest and most dangerous case yet.


Who am I to take a subject with the utmost seriousness? As much as I love the horror genre, I thought there would be room to cover one horror comedy, so I chose Ghostbusters. I wonder if modern audiences actually can fathom how big a hit Ghostbusters was in 1984. The film was number one at the box office for numerous weeks and after a re-release in theaters a year later, it became the most successful comedy of the 1980s. With a reputation like that, Ghostbusters has some important expectations to live up to, including being a comedy that is till funny nearly 30 years later, AND being able to successfully mix the comedy with horror elements.

A great part about the film is that it utilizes different types of comedy for its main characters, including all four Ghostbusters. Ghostbusters mainly follows the character of Dr. Peter Venkman, played by Bill Murray. Murray's brand of sarcasm is what makes Venkman stand out as a unique comedic character, appearing with both a charm and an annoyance to him. Dr. Egon Spengler, played by Harold Ramis, is the group's smartest member, so there is a mad scientist kind of comedy used with his character. He loves all things science and is confident in his element, yet is socially awkward when it comes to other things in life, such as love.

Dan Aykroyd plays Dr. Raymond Stantz. Aykroyd knows how to play off the humor that Murray and Ramis bring. Aykroyd's comedy is more on a naivety and innocence. He has a kind heart and is optimistic for the team, making him arguably the most lovable member of the group. The final Ghostbuster to talk about is Winston Zeddemore, played by Ernie Hudson. While not in the film too long (his character is more explored in Ghostbusters 2), Winston is made enjoyable through Hudson's brand of class and charm (tell me he doesn't make you smile when he says "That's a big Twinkie"). With all four members utilizing different character and comedy types, they're able to have chemistry with the other members in the group and their interactions lead to some of the most memorable and quotable moments of the film.

The comedy doesn't end with the Ghostbusters, as they are supported by a tremendous cast of side characters. There's Walter Peck, played by William Atherton, a lawyer from the EPA determined to prove the Ghostbusters as frauds. Venkman's love interest Dana Barrett, played by Siguorney Weaver, along with the Ghostbusters' secretary Janine Melnitz, played by Annie Potts, are able to hold their own as memorable and interesting female characters in a film with a predominant male cast. But by far, the best side character is Louis Tully, played by Rick Moranis. Louis is Dana's flirtatious neighbor and Moranis plays him with just the right amount of confidence, while also making it painfully aware of how pathetic he is, a great recipe for comedy.

I love the irony of choosing to do Ghostbusters after reviewing Poltergeist. Ghostbusters has the opposite effect Poltergeist has on the main characters. The audience is there primarily to see the Ghostbusters, and the ghosts are an added bonus of entertainment. Knowing how to incorporate the proper elements of comedy in creations like Slimer and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, along with elements of horror in the form of Gozer the Gozerian or the librarian ghost, the monsters that the Ghostbusters have to capture serve as evidence of the film's ability cross the streams of what can be scary and what can be hilarious.


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

The popularity that Ghostbusters has had for years is thanks to its ability to bring together some of the biggest names in comedy and put them on-screen to work off one another. The ghosts are just icing on the cake for an already entertaining film. I will give the film a solid recommendation to all fans of comedy, even if you aren't a fan of horror.

Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review

Ghostbusters and movie images are copyrighted by Columbia Pictures