At the time of its release, "Ghostbusters" was the most expensive comedy ever made. The accountants at Columbia must have been pleased, however, when the summer blockbuster also became, at the time, the highest grossing comedy ever made. It made some $220 million at the box office. It helped that the title song by Ray Parker Jr. became a #1 pop single, with a video that heavily plugged the film (both were directed by Ivan Reitman).
The film was originally intended as a Dan Akroyd and John Belushi vehicle; an attempt to reproduce the success of "The Blues Brothers". Belushi's drug overdose death in 1982 led to rewrites and his replacement by fellow "Saturday Night Live" alumnus Bill Murray. Although it would prove to be the biggest commercial hit of his career, Murray was reluctant to take the part. He only signed up when studio executives agreed to fund his pet project, "The Razor's Edge". (Despite Murray's starring presence, "The Razor's Edge" would tank at the box office, grossing only 3% of the receipts of "Ghostbusters". So much for casting against type.)
Although Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis starred in the film in addition to serving as writers, they gave Murray both the best character and the best lines. Murray's womanizing, sarcastic scientist is always funny. Akroyd is sometimes funny, while Ramis is determined to be the straight man. Their characters' scientific expertise is in reverse proportion to their sense of humor, with Ramis cast as a genius and Murray as a con artist. Ernie Hudson later becomes a fourth musketeer, with his bewildered character seemingly a late addition to the script.
In the tradition of Groucho Marx and Margaret Dumont, comic foils for Murray include the desperate manager of a posh hotel (Michael Ensign) and a sneering federal bureaucrat (William Atherton). Nerds are also targeted: Steven Tash in Murray's introductory scenes (the film's best) and Rick Moranis at length. (Moranis would soon become an unlikely star as Hollywood's nerd stereotype, in films like "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids".) Sigourney Weaver is the film's requisite babe. Although not known for comedy ("Working Girl" and "Annie Hall" notwithstanding), she camps it up when her character is possessed by demons. She is an underrated actress.
Expensive as they were, the special effects aren't completely convincing in this latter age of computer wizardry. The stone dogs turned to life seem like claymation figures from "King Kong" (1933). But the sets are still impressive, and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man's rampage is a clever Godzilla parody.
"Ghostbusters" is often funny, but audience sympathy is required to get past the ridiculous, rushed story and inconsistent humor. In particular, Moranis is overused, Akroyd's delivery seems forced, and Ramis' physics genius too convenient to the plot.
The film has a cartoonish quality, so it was only fitting that it spawned two animated television series, "Ghostbusters" and "The Real Ghostbusters" (both from 1986). The live action sequel was "Ghostbusters II" from 1989. It was critically panned, but still grossed half of the original. (54/100)
A trio of university parasychologists lose their research grant and decide to open their own business, Ghostbusters, and almost at once are summoned t...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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