Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire-Not the Most Epic, But Still Pleasing

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire final poster. Courtesy of Sony Pictures.

Though the Ectomobile looked fresh as it was speeding towards a crazy sewer dragon, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire was not as fresh as Afterlife. It wasn’t too much fun for the most of the film with Phoebe Spengler’s (McKenna Grace) dramatic change, but closer to the end, busting still made me feel good.

The new Ghostbusters chase a sewer dragon in New York City in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.

Frozen Empire takes place 3 years after Afterlife. Walter Peck (William Atherton) is back and determined to put the Ghostbusters, both past and present, in the grave. Peck also gets Phoebe benched because she’s not legally old enough, and Phoebe’s mother Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon) and her former teacher Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd) agree because they want her to have a normal teenage life instead of the burden of Ghostbusting. As Phoebe tires to fill her loneliness, some ancient artifact shows up at Ray Stantz’s (Dan Aykroyd) bookstore and unleashes a ghost capable of literally freezing people to death with their own fear. This causes issues to subside so Phoebe and her family, Ray and his veterans (Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts) can zap and trap for another ride.

Lucky Domingo (Celeste O'Connor (they/them), Trevor Spengler (Finn Wolfhard), Dr. Lars Pinfield (James Acaster), Podcast (Logan Kim), and Dr. Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) studying the orb of their latest ghost victim in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.

I was excited about Frozen Empire for weeks, but upon seeing the film, even with Gary’s enthusiasm and bringing the main men from ’84 back, it wasn’t that exciting. It wasn’t so exciting not just because of the uneasy adolescence of Phoebe, but because Kumail Nanjiani as Nadeem Razmaadi didn’t seem very funny to me at first. It seemed like Frozen Empire didn’t start to lighten up till the film’s climax.

There were some good moments, mind you. For example, Callie made her first non-cynical pun when they trapped the sewer dragon, even though the hunt left a mess reminiscent of Will Smith's Hancock character. Next, Podcast (Logan Kim) was like Ned from the Tom Holland Spider-Man films, with his childlike wonder about the weird things and guy-in-the-chair outlook. Last, the rookie and veteran busters went back to the ‘84 roots at the 5^th avenue section of the New York Public Library, where they confronted a stone lion.

Though I couldn’t dig his whole wooden character at first, Nadeem did come through in the end when he found some mystical power to help attack the ice age ghost. And the final battle reminded me of Raiders of the Lost Ark, just like the original film.

It all comes down to one big proton blast in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Courtesy of Sony Pictures.

While I may not have liked so much drama for Phoebe, that development may be a good thing on the other hand. It shows that she’s not just there to please Ghostbuster fans, but she wants to have a happy life of her own, away from fulfilling her grandfather’s legacy. Some other things that lighten up the tough parts of the film are the goofy Mini Puft Marshmallow men, Gary’s awkward yet well-meaning attempts at bonding with Phoebe, and the returns of Peter Venkman and Slimer. 

When it came to Venkman, this time, his deadpan humor came in handy when the chips were down towards the end. And you’ve truly lived when you’ve gone through Slimer, or as Ray used to call “that ugly little spud.”

The other good parts of the film were the science behind the hunting equipment and strategies to catch the ghost.

I wish there was more fun like in the past, but I guess some of these tough changes are to help the new Ghostbusters establish a different legacy from their predecessors.

As for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire as a whole, I’d give it a 7/10. I'm curious what will be next. And to the memory of original director Ivan Reitman and Dan Aykroyd's partner in creating the franchise, Harold Ramis.

Teaneck High School's 'Mamma Mia' was a Coruscating Disco Inferno

Teaneck High School's production of Mamma Mia. Photo taken by William Edward Beavers, V.

The evening of March 22, 2024 was a disco inferno when Mamma Mia came to Teaneck High School. From vigorous singing voices by the main and supporting cast to the astounding pop rock from the stage band, it was a well-executed musical production to bring to the Township of Teaneck. A great direction by THS alumnus Ari Hiller, co-direction by Mr. Todd Murphy, and musical direction by Mrs. Molly Neff.

To those who are not familiar, Mamma Mia tells the tale of young bride-to-be Sophie Sheridan, played by Lula Najera, who has no idea who her birth father is. It could be one of her taverna owner mother Donna's ex-lovers Sam Carmichael, Harry Bright or Bill Austin, played by Henry Hietikko-Parson, Nate White and Hamish White. On the other hand, Donna Sheridan, played by Maggie Smith, wonders if the party’s over now that her disco days are behind her and Sophie’s ready to move on to adulthood. She has great support in the forms of her Dynamo bandmates Tanya and Rosie, played by Toni Loveless and Esa Gadson, but no partner to share her life with. These heavy tales of adulthood, female empowerment, and friendship do tend to lighten up with help from the musical numbers courtesy of pop supergroup ABBA.

Sophie Sheridan, played by Lula Najera, in Teaneck High School's production of Mamma Mia. Photo taken by William Edward Beavers, V.

Donna Sheridan, played by Maggie Smith, in Teaneck High School's production of Mamma Mia. Photo taken by William Edward Beavers, V.

Though I do enjoy ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”, I wasn’t invested in Mamma Mia until Friday night’s performance, which was coruscating. When I say “coruscating”, I don’t just mean because there were moments that they lit up during the tough times with a dance under the colorful disco ball. It was also coruscating when the show also shed light on the fact that just because you don’t know one of your birth parents or because you’re a hard-working single parent, that does not mean your life doesn’t deserve something or someone special. In that case, the show was heartwarming as well as a real excellent festivity.

The Dynamos, Tanya and Rosie, played by Toni Loveless and Esa Gadson, in Teaneck High School's production of Mamma Mia. Photos taken by William Edward Beavers, V.

Donna Sheridan's employees Pepper and Eddie, played by Chase Burton and Alex Perez, in Teaneck High School's production of Mamma Mia. Photo taken by William Edward Beavers, V.

Sam Carmichael, played by Henry Hietikko-Parson, in Teaneck High School's production of Mamma Mia. Photo taken by William Edward Beavers, V.

Harry Bright, played by Hamish White, in Teaneck High School's production of Mamma Mia. Photo taken by William Edward Beavers, V.

Bill Austin, played by Nate White, in Teaneck High School's production of Mamma Mia. Photo taken by William Edward Beavers, V.

Sky, played by Sebastian Mendoza, in Teaneck High School's production of Mamma Mia. Photo taken by William Edward Beavers, V.

A second thing I liked about the musical were the main female and male castmates making fun of adulthood’s responsibilities and getting wild around Greece, including Tanya rejecting Donna’s employee Pepper’s flirting with her on the beach in “Does Your Mother Know?”. Another humorous scene was Rosie bringing ABBA’s “Take a Chance on Me” when one of Bill was going to resign to being single.

And as I stated earlier, there was some vigorous singing in the cases of Sophie, Donna, Tanya and Rosie. Putting aside their funny yet awkward first meeting, the actors who played potential fathers Sam, Bill, and Harry were great when they poured their hearts out to Sophie, then Donna, and when the men were discussing the joys of being unhitched and traveling the world.

A note I have was that the sound prevented me from hearing most of Act II, starting with “Does Your Mother Know?”. However, Tanya made up for visuals with her breaking down Pepper and the scene seeming reminiscent of an Elton John music video. And I felt like Sky, Sophie’s fiancé, played by Sebastian Mendoza, should’ve been given more stage time. That may not have been the original show’s plan, but still.

Teaneck High School's Mamma Mia at the end. With friends and family (blood or not), you can have the time of your life. Photo courtesy of William Edward Beavers, V.

Nevertheless, I stand by my previous statements that Teaneck High School’s production of Mamma Mia was a coruscating disco inferno. The music and acting were wonderful things to witness, and great job in reminding that happiness should never stop at any age. And my best wishes to the stage crew, set designs, band, and basically everyone who made this possible.