IVAN REITMAN
Bil’s rating (out of 5): BBB. USA, 1989. Columbia Pictures Corporation. Screenplay by Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, based on characters created by Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis. Cinematography by Michael Chapman. Produced by Ivan Reitman. Music by Randy Edelman. Production Design by Bo Welch. Costume Design by Gloria Gresham. Film Editing by Donn Cambern, Sheldon Kahn.
Peter MacNicol in Ghostbusters II
Tepid sequel finds the gang of Ghostbusters living on skid row now that the city is cleaned of all its paranormal activity and they’ve become a big joke. Working birthday parties to stay afloat while fighting a court case that threatens to bankrupt them, the boys suddenly spring back into action when New York City is once again infested. This time it’s the negative energy of the city dwellers themselves that has been creating an oozing river of ‘mal-entendre’ slime in sewer canals, causing strange things to happen and weird creatures to start appearing everywhere. The main thing to worry about, however, is the reappearance of an evil nobleman who is now able to reincarnate himself back to life and take over civilization. Bill Murray is again hilarious, Harold Ramis brainy, Dan Aykroyd daffy and Ernie Hudson stalwart, but none of it gels together as well as it did the first time. It also doesn’t help that the main plot (people are being attacked by ghosts because they’re just not nice enough to each other) comes off a bit cheesy. Highlights are a delightful supporting role by Annie Potts, returning as their secretary, and the always lovely Sigourney Weaver, who is now a mother with a little baby and still the apple of Murray’s eye.
