# Ghostbusters (2016) is super awesome! (spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [July 15, 2016, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965 "2016-07-15T09:21:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/222 "2017-08-10T00:53:05Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I really can’t wrap my head around how anyone couldn’t find it funny, so I guess we’re at an impasse. I think that anyone who failed to be entertained by Kate McKinnon in this movie is probably dead inside. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/223 "2017-08-10T05:55:02Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I really can’t wrap my head around how anyone couldn’t find it funny, so I guess we’re at an impasse. Likewise. I love the original, and was very highly skeptical of the reboot, because frankly, most reboots suck. I laughed my ass off. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/224 "2017-08-10T13:07:56Z")
“Entertained”. Yes, that’s exactly the word for how Kate McKinnon made me feel. There isn’t some other word that would be more precise. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/225 "2017-08-10T14:05:53Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > I think that anyone who failed to be entertained by Kate McKinnon in this movie is probably dead inside. I think we could use her scenes for testing purposes in the event of a pod person scenario. If you laugh, you’re human. If you don’t, you’re an alien pod person. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/226 "2017-08-10T14:16:22Z")
Holtzmann is officially the best character in the Ghostbusters franchise. (Real Ghostbusters Egon comes close.) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/227 "2017-08-10T14:49:05Z")
Here was my problem with this movie: it didn’t need to be a remake or a “reboot” or whatever they’re calling this stuff now. They already had an established universe to work with; the hard part was already done. Had they just done something like one of the original characters’ daughters or nieces or stepchildren or adopted whatever, coming home to restart the family business, that would have worked fine and been compelling. Then they could acknowledge the contributions the previous casts and crews; then they could acknowledge that Egon existed, then they could have actually meaningful roles for previous cast members instead of bullshit cameos in heavy makeup. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/228 "2017-08-10T15:00:54Z")
Eh, they could have, but a world in which the Ghostbusters have already existed and have already saved New York from one giant monster is a very different world from one where they haven’t. And I think that pushing back against public opposition is a very important part of both films. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/229 "2017-08-10T17:17:45Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I think we could use her scenes for testing purposes in the event of a pod person scenario. If you laugh, you’re human. If you don’t, you’re an alien pod person. Well, the movie flopped, so apparently we’ve already taken over. You hoomans with your try-hard humor. Don’t worry; that’ll soon be ameliorated. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/230 "2017-08-10T17:40:40Z")
Nothing’s more ‘try-hard’ than the actively trying to deny the movie was funny. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/231 "2017-08-10T17:42:28Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Eh, they could have, but a world in which the Ghostbusters have already existed and have already saved New York from one giant monster is a very different world from one where they haven’t. And I think that pushing back against public opposition is a very important part of both films. “Public opposition” wasn’t really a major theme of the original film. There’s basically only one character who thinks they’re frauds - Walter Peck from the EPA. The public generally treats them like rock stars. I agree with **DCnDC** that making this a reboot was a mistake. Dan Ackroyd’s original script for the first film had Ghostbusting as an established industry, and the main characters were struggling to keep up in a crowded market. I really wish they’d gone back to this for the new film - the new characters are franchisees of the massive Ghostbusters Inc. conglomerate. Peter Venkman is the CEO, and is essentially the Walter Peck of the movie, trying to shut down the protagonists for being unprofitable and embarrassing to the corporate headquarters. (He comes around by the final act, and realizes that he’s forgotten the true spirit of Ghostbusting. Which is probably [this guy](https://media.giphy.com/media/5kmCPgp7gMDqU/giphy.gif).) This would have opened up some good story-telling opportunities, such as introducing a rival team of successful Ghostbusters\* to compete against, and would have made story beats like Holtzman inventing second generation ghostbusting gear more significant. \*Bonus points if they sport popped collars and wear sweaters tied around their necks. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/232 "2017-08-10T17:50:37Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > Nothing’s more ‘try-hard’ than the actively trying to deny the movie was funny. Oh, tsk tsk. Our pod-people humor is very efficient. No more belaboring a joke when restraint and subtlety will do. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/233 "2017-08-10T17:56:14Z")
> [@Trancephalic](#): > > Oh, tsk tsk. Our pod-people humor is very efficient. No more belaboring a joke when restraint and subtlety will do. This post disproves itself. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/234 "2017-08-10T17:57:10Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Peter Venkman is the CEO, and is essentially the Walter Peck of the movie, trying to shut down the protagonists for being unprofitable and embarrassing to the corporate headquarters. (He comes around by the final act, and realizes that he’s forgotten the true spirit of Ghostbusting. Which is probably [this guy](https://media.giphy.com/media/5kmCPgp7gMDqU/giphy.gif).) It would have to be Venkman’s son or something because it would not make sense at all for the Venkman of the first movie to be concerned about something as square as unprofitability. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/235 "2017-08-10T18:02:13Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > This post disproves itself. Oh, there’s no point in pretense when the secret’s out. BTW, did you humans realize the “come claim your virginity from the lost-and-found” joke makes no ontological sense.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/236 "2017-08-10T18:19:25Z")
I may have already posted in this thread I didn’t look but the movie was a shit heap. I hated it from the opening scene and only made it part way in before I had to turn it off. McKinnon was probably the only bright spot and she has been better elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/237 "2017-08-10T22:51:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > “Entertained”. Yes, that’s exactly the word for how Kate McKinnon made me feel. There isn’t some other word that would be more precise. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. This is actually almost verbatim what was going through my head when I wrote that post. 😉 > [@Trancephalic](#): > > Well, the movie flopped, so apparently we’ve already taken over. > > You hoomans with your try-hard humor. Don’t worry; that’ll soon be ameliorated. You’re right, it wasn’t a commercial success. Nor was it a critical darling. Nor is it a recent release. It’s been more than a year since the movie came out, and close to a year since this thread was last active. But you still took the time to dig up the thread and let us know that you didn’t think it was funny, because…you’re so nonchalant about it? ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/238 "2017-08-10T22:56:06Z")
It’s a fun review. The review is funny. I wanted to shaaaare. ;\_; ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/239 "2017-08-10T23:28:44Z")
> [@Trancephalic](#): > > It’s a fun review. The review is funny. I wanted to shaaaare. ;\_; Then it’s a shame you presented it in such an unappealing manner. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/240 "2017-08-11T01:22:29Z")
> [@Trancephalic](#): > > It’s a fun review. The review is funny. I wanted to shaaaare. ;\_; No offense, but your not exactly at the top of my list of “People with useful opinions about what’s funny,” right now. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-2016-is-super-awesome-spoilers/759965/241 "2017-08-11T01:53:47Z")
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