In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family struggles to take over the Ghostbusters’ business in New York City while figuring out their roles in business and life. Oh, and there is also the fate of the world to worry about.
This month, Eve and I chill out with Gil Kenan’s second Ghostbuster offering, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, and Mckenna Grace all reprise their roles and are joined by Kumail Nanjiani as Nadeem and Patton Oswalt as Dr. Hubert Wartzki. In it, Dr. Stantz is sold an ancient Indian artifact that piques his PK meter and interest. As he reunites with the previous Ghostbusters, the old and new generation face off against an ice-age-causing demon from mythology. Composer Dario Marianelli perfectly matches the music and mood throughout the movie.
Initial Impressions
We can only start this review by mentioning that Episode 149 marks Are You Just Watching’s 15th anniversary! Yay!
In another odd twist, last month, we reviewed Dune Part 2, and this month, we are looking at Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the direct sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife. As it happens, the month before, we ALSO reviewed Dune Part 1! Is it a crazy coincidence?
From a thematic point of view, Frozen Empire shares almost all the same praises and concerns we raised in the Afterlife review. It capitalizes every bit as much on the franchise’s nostalgic, campy nature. Still, it offers up a couple of deeper themes to discuss. Eve felt that Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire was a slightly better movie, but I thought it was somewhat less enjoyable.
Let me start by saying I love the cast and premise of the new Ghostbusters franchise. I have no complaints about either. Correction: Except for Kumail Nanjiani—I found his character of Nadeem akin to nails on chalkboards. The writing on this movie was sub-sub-par. There are huge plot holes and foolish decisions throughout the entire film. While interesting, the plot was nearly transparent. You know from the beginning how it would end, and became invested in how they would make the pieces come together for that to happen—but Frozen Empire failed to deliver. Several significant issues were left unresolved, including the fact that all the ghosts had escaped containment. Many characters make choices that are out of character despite a clear history of doing much better. The writing also stoops to some crude humor, turning stuff that wouldn’t have passed censors thirty years ago into blase throwaway lines for cheap laughs. They also included almost all of the original cast. However, put virtually no effort into how to incorporate them—they were “there.” (The very talented Rick Moranis, a man I greatly admire, declined to reprise his role in the franchise after mostly withdrawing from acting in 1997 after the death of his wife and becoming a single parent.)
One element that bothered me quite a bit, likely the cause of my mild dislike, is that Biblical stories are treated as children’s fairy tales in the many exposition info dumps. At the same time, H.P. Lovecraft (author of the Necronomicon and purveyor of Cuthulu mythos) is cited as a factual source.
Ultimately, Afterlife succeeded in emotional beats, and Frozen Empire failed by glossing them over.
Maturity is Not a Number
One of the main themes throughout the film is the question of maturity. Trevor is complaining that he’s “18 now” and should be treated like an adult (despite clearly acting like a child.) Phoebe is forcibly removed from the Ghostbuster’s operations “because she’s a minor,” completely ignoring the fact that she is, in fact, the most mature member of the entire non-traditional family. Even former substitute teacher Gary admits as much when he tells the mayor, “Honestly, she’s more focused, more accomplished, more capable than just about any other adult I know.”
This raises the question of what maturity is. It’s commonly accepted that girls mature faster than boys. In fact, many boys never mature, but that’s another discussion. In part, girls mature faster because they have to. Their bodies undergo more dramatic changes than their counterparts, and they are faced with the genuine possibility of becoming targets of both wanted and unwanted sexual advances. Both require a monumental shift in perception—one of survival. Phoebe even comments: “Now, if this was the 18th century, then I’d already be a part of the workforce, and I’d have four kids.”
One theme of the movie is that Phoebe is unjustly restricted from doing what she loves because she is not mature enough. Yet, about two-thirds through the film, she makes an incredibly foolish decision to “experience what it is like to be a ghost” through untested technology. It is possible that her decision was better informed than we are aware by the scenes left as scraps on the cutting room floor and that it was not as foolish as it seemed to me. Phoebe was trying to strengthen a friendship she was developing with a spirit named Melody. Eve felt her decision made more sense than I gave it credit; perhaps this is a matter of differing perspectives.
This theme raises the question: What does the Bible consider mature, and when are children considered adults? First, we should note that gullibility is a sign of lacking maturity, as seen in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:
Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. (Ephesians 4:14)
One of the most critical elements of maturity is discernment. We gain it as we grow in Christ and seek to live lives that reflect His. Proper discernment includes factoring emotion into decisions. Not utter disregard for emotions, yet not allowing emotions to cloud judgment.
Scripture provides little information regarding the age of accountability. There doesn’t appear to be a physical age, but more a question of innocence. At some point, most children gain an innate understanding of sin and rebellion. Some, like Downs Syndrome children or those who are severely autistic, never lose that childhood innocence. When that happens for each child, it is between them and God. God knows every person’s heart and whether they have reached the point of maturity where they are accountable for their own sin.
Interestingly, there is one example of the “age of majority” in scripture that we should note. When Israel, freed of bondage in Egypt, is led to the promised land, all but two scouts return, claiming unbeatable foes. For God, this was a sort of “last straw,” and He declared:
‘Because they did not remain loyal to me, none of the men twenty years old or more who came up from Egypt will see the land I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—none except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, because they did remain loyal to the LORD.’ (Numbers 32:11–12)
God set an age of majority—a cutoff age—for those permitted access to the land of milk and honey. Everyone aged 20 years or older would be allowed to enter. The only two exceptions were the two scouts who remained faithful to God. God declared that those 19 and under were not responsible for the previous generation’s lack of faith.
Abandoned People Seek Connections
Phoebe’s mother, Callie, and her sort-of-father, Gary, clearly valued Phoebe’s maturity and self-sufficiency. Unfortunately, that led Phoebe to develop a sense of abandonment. When Phoebe’s sense of purpose is challenged, her mom and Gary encourage her to enjoy her childhood but never provide any insight or instruction on what that even looks like. Phoebe can put together a proton pack in her sleep, but she needs to be better equipped to make friends.
This lack of sensitivity is reflected in Callie and Gary’s relationship. Gary has lived with them, presumably as Callie’s partner, for three years. Yet, whenever Gary tries to determine his responsibility limits with Trevor and Phoebe, Callie seems to flake out. Gary apparently wanted to be a father figure but felt he needed Callie’s permission. The impact this has on the kids is observable. Phoebe, and to a lesser extent Trevor, can’t seem to identify their meaning and purpose. We see this in real-life families as well—and in real life, kids often seek to fill that void with gangs, cults, or addictions.
Throughout the book of Proverbs, we see the importance of wise parents instructing their children in discernment. The writer shows us that discernment isn’t a question of maturity but an application of wisdom. The book uses parallelism to show the benefits of discernment and the consequences of foolishness.
We are intended to work together as a family to build each other up. Loneliness is a genuine concern. Even God noticed Adam’s loneliness:
Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper corresponding to him.” (Genesis 2:18)
And God makes it clear that we should never forget that when all seems hopeless and lost, He is with us:
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
When Jesus was preparing his disciples for His impending departure, He stressed that He would not leave them alone:
“If you love me, you will keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you. (John 14:15–17)
Yet, in all of this, this promise is contingent on faith; those who have not accepted Christ as their savior are really alone.
Legacy Building
In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, there is a pivotal (yet painfully one-dimensional) character named only “Nadeem.” He is the least mature character in the script, and this immaturity is demonstrated by his utter disregard for the legacy his grandmother left for him—to the point where he tries to sell her possessions. And while it may not entirely be Nadeem’s fault that the legacy was not passed on, I’m okay with blaming him.
But legacy is essential. It is how we pass along our wisdom and how those who come after us learn to apply it. We see it in Israel’s entry into the promised land:
…and he said to the Israelites, “In the future, when your children ask their fathers, ‘What is the meaning of these stones?’ you should tell your children, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ (Joshua 4:21-22)
We must leave an Ebenezer for our descendants to question and learn. This should allow them to better understand their place in the world. Good parenting means teaching children the lessons they need to thrive in the world, and it’s generational. Children who have been brought up knowing God’s wisdom and how it is better than what the world gives them will be led and protected in a godless society and will impart that wisdom to their own children.
Legacy is, in part, about leaving lessons behind. Yet, this new generation of Ghostbusters (or the New York City government) has yet to learn any of the lessons from the previous movies—except Winston, who is almost entirely absent! If Ghostbusting were to continue to be essential, the earlier generations of Ghostbusters had a responsibility to pass on the legacy and knowledge needed to do the job. The same is true for Godly parents:
“Imprint these words of mine on your hearts and minds, bind them as a sign on your hands, and let them be a symbol on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 11:18-19)
Are You Just Watching? is listener supported. Special thanks to our current patrons: Isaias Santillano, Craig Hardee, Stephen Brown II, David Lefton, and Peter Chapman for their generous support. We can't continue to share critical thinking for the entertained Christian without your financial help, so please head on over to our Patreon page and become one of our supporting patrons! What did you think of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire? We would like to know, even if just your reactions to the trailer or the topics we shared in this episode. Or what general critical-thinking and entertainment thoughts or questions do you have? Would you like to suggest a movie or TV show for us to give a Christian movie review with critical thinking?Please support the podcast!
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