Key Takeaways:
– ‘Ghostbusters’ 2016 reboot was deemed a commercial failure.
– Team members attribute the failure to the political climate.
– Director Paul Feig blames the film’s failure on anti-Hilary sentiment and Trump supporters.
– Sony reportedly incurred a loss close to $70M on the film.
– The film has received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike.
From the realm of Hollywood comes a familiar tale of a celebrated movie remake that didn’t quite hit the spot. Do you remember the 2016 version of ‘Ghostbusters’? You know, the one that starred Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig, and was directed by Paul Feig? Well, it seems the team behind this movie is yet to move on from the disappointing reception the film garnered.
When Ghostbusters Blame the Ghosts
Interestingly enough, instead of looking into what could have been creatively improved, the key players in this movie are pointing fingers elsewhere. Melissa McCarthy, one of the main characters, voiced her opinion that the film’s lack of triumph was due to a societal fear of powerful women. Her co-star Leslie Jones joined the bandwagon, labeling racism and misogyny as potential reasons why the film tanked.
Behind the Camera View
The one person truly hanging on to the disappointing past seems to be the film’s director, Paul Feig. Going beyond the realm of Hollywood, he’s blaming the movie’s lack of success on political elements. In his opinion, anti-Hillary supporters during the 2016 election’s period effectively contributed to the film’s dismal performance.
Feig even goes further to suggest that Trump supporters played a massive role in trying to sink the movie. He recalls how the movie became a political statement, dividing the audience into those in favor of its all-woman cast and those against.
Drowned in Expectations
Despite its not-so-great performance, the ‘Ghostbusters’ reboot wasn’t that terrible. With Sony losing close to $70M, the exaggeration of its failure is rife. Admittedly, the script was frail – the storyline didn’t exactly sizzle. The cast gave commendable performances, with Kristen Wiig being her usual quirky self, Leslie Jones acing her role, and Kate McKinnon proving to be a scene-stealer.
Even Ernie Hudson, a star of the original ‘Ghostbusters’, expressed his disappointment in the reboot. As he noted, the film didn’t really meet the fans’ expectations. And that’s the thing about remakes, isn’t it? They’re held to a higher standard – they need to satisfy the nostalgia of the old fanbase while also wooing a new one.
Critical Perspective
The audience wasn’t alone in its disapproval. Critics were also lukewarm towards the film, with reviews being middling at best. After all, when it comes to movies, it’s not just about the cast, the director, or the budget; it’s about telling a compelling story. Unfortunately, this was something the 2016 ‘Ghostbusters’ reboot failed to achieve.
In the end, instead of holding on to past disappointments and directing blame, perhaps the ‘Ghostbusters’ team should draw lessons from the experience. Could they have improved their storytelling? Could they have handled the promotion differently? Regardless, it’s a stark reminder that in film, as in life, not every reboot can recapture the magic of the original.
And that’s okay, as long as we learn, grow, and add some fresh jokes along the way. Perhaps in the not-too-distant future, there’ll be another ‘Ghostbusters’ reboot that will make us all laugh and cheer just like the first time.
