I got to see this at a prescreening and if you weren't a fan of Afterlife because of so-called recycled content, I will tell you that Frozen Empire goes a bit bolder and further from the original content than they ever have before.
Yes, there's a good deal of fan-service, but none of it is by any reasonable argument the driving force of the story.
I was told that Eric Steelberg readied himself by watching the original two films while Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan prepared by watching the animated series, and surely this shows.
As the fourth film in the series, this was the right time to stray from the original formula and hearken more towards something familiar only to the most hardcore of fans and therefore quite new to the general public.
Though much like observing a glorified episode of The Real Ghostbusters, there was nothing about it that felt too familiar or rehashed.
The mythology behind Garraka, the new big baddie, is engaging enough and unique. The build-up to his imminent arrival is pretty intense and quite a satisfying pay-off.
Of the films at the very least, I'd have to argue that this is the most formidable and intimidating enemy that the boys in beige (and girls too - seeing Melnitz in uniform was so satisfying) have encountered thus far.
Each of the characters already established were just as good as you could expect from the preceding films and they were built upon decently enough.. namely Phoebe, Ray Stantz and then perhaps Gary Grooberson in that order.
Patton Oswalt and James Acaster were colorful and very welcoming additions to the group and made it adequately and pragmatically clear that even our favorite characters who seem to know more than most, still don't have all the answers.
Certain elements may feel somewhat forced or far-fetched for some audiences. Others might first point fingers at Kumail Nanjiani or Emily Alyn Lind's characters. However, recalling (at the very least) that Frozen Empire is akin to an episode of the animated series, these seeming imperfections lie solely within the construct of the story and were easily dismissed.
Both Kumail and Emily portrayed their characters and their roles within the story really quite well and admirably.
On my wife's part and most of the audience, Paul and Kumail were the most entertaining and got the most laughs. There was alot going on including plenty of action and cool new gear.
Not much else can be said but that I had a lot of fun and hope to see more just like it down the road.
Yes, there's a good deal of fan-service, but none of it is by any reasonable argument the driving force of the story.
I was told that Eric Steelberg readied himself by watching the original two films while Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan prepared by watching the animated series, and surely this shows.
As the fourth film in the series, this was the right time to stray from the original formula and hearken more towards something familiar only to the most hardcore of fans and therefore quite new to the general public.
Though much like observing a glorified episode of The Real Ghostbusters, there was nothing about it that felt too familiar or rehashed.
The mythology behind Garraka, the new big baddie, is engaging enough and unique. The build-up to his imminent arrival is pretty intense and quite a satisfying pay-off.
Of the films at the very least, I'd have to argue that this is the most formidable and intimidating enemy that the boys in beige (and girls too - seeing Melnitz in uniform was so satisfying) have encountered thus far.
Each of the characters already established were just as good as you could expect from the preceding films and they were built upon decently enough.. namely Phoebe, Ray Stantz and then perhaps Gary Grooberson in that order.
Patton Oswalt and James Acaster were colorful and very welcoming additions to the group and made it adequately and pragmatically clear that even our favorite characters who seem to know more than most, still don't have all the answers.
Certain elements may feel somewhat forced or far-fetched for some audiences. Others might first point fingers at Kumail Nanjiani or Emily Alyn Lind's characters. However, recalling (at the very least) that Frozen Empire is akin to an episode of the animated series, these seeming imperfections lie solely within the construct of the story and were easily dismissed.
Both Kumail and Emily portrayed their characters and their roles within the story really quite well and admirably.
On my wife's part and most of the audience, Paul and Kumail were the most entertaining and got the most laughs. There was alot going on including plenty of action and cool new gear.
Not much else can be said but that I had a lot of fun and hope to see more just like it down the road.