* Paul Rudd is never not a delight, but the real find here is 15-year-old McKenna Grace. The whole thing rests on her lead performance and she 100% delivers.
* We highly recommend that you watch the original first. There's a number of connections to that 1984(!) movie, both subtle winks and big plot points. You'll want to refresh your memory. It will help.
* The explanation for the strange earthquakes was quite ingenious.
* On one hand, we certainly appreciate the idea of making a direct sequel to the original and engaging longtime fans. We saw that movie twice in theaters in the summer of 1984 (most likely at the dearly departed United Artists Walnut Hill 6) and had a movie poster thumbtacked to our bedroom door. The exciting sequences of the kids strapping on proton packs, driving the Ecto-1, and even (gasp) zipping into Ghostbuster jumpsuits are the very definition of "fan fiction."
* On the other hand, remember how The Force Awakens was sort of a narrative re-do of A New Hope? The plot here not only covers similar beats to the original movie, it completely undermines the Ghostbusters' "cross the streams!" Central Park victory all those years ago.
* We don't want to spoil anything, but surely you've heard by now that some original Ghostbusters actors make cameos. It's an awkward bit of business that borders on embarrassing. Some of them really don't look like they want to be there. One in particular. We wonder who twisted their arm.
* The CGI Stay Puft marshmallow men gag is completely hilarious and charming. And also completely forced and unnecessary, existing solely to be hilarious and charming.
* The emotional ending makes sense in a lot of ways, and we know the filmmakers got everyone onboard and were completely respectful. You'll know the moment when you see it. But it's also a little but icky.
* It's fun, yeah, but it's also kind of a slog. You'll likely be way ahead of the movie and subsequently tapping your foot impatiently waiting for the story to hurry up and just get there.
* Who you gonna call?
Israel Daramola has a great take on the current state of tentpole sequels like Afterlife at The Ringer.
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