Retrospective Film Review

Ghostbusters II (1989) — the unloved, soulless sequel destined to fail

The discovery of a massive river of ectoplasm and a resurgence of spectral activity allows the staff of Ghostbusters to revive the business.

Why was the sequel to one of the world’s most beloved, successful comedies such a failure? Had the national zeitgeist shifted? Or was the production simply doomed from the start? Beneath the veneer of a light-hearted sequel, there were public spats, long delays, a reluctant cast and crew, unsuccessful test screenings, and extensive last-minute revisions to Ghostbusters II. The result was something strange in the neighbourhood: an unfunny comedy and a dull summer film.

Five years after saving an entire metropolis, the Ghostbusters are bankrupt and despised by the general public. They’ve sunk to performing at children’s birthday parties, or have returned to their scientific careers. That is, until they discover a potent, psycho-reactive substance — or, in layman’s terms, “mood slime” — coursing beneath New York City’s streets. As Dana…