A Ken Doll Situation: Ghostbuster's 2016 & 1984 Review

Note: I preferred the 2016 version. I’ll try not to be biased. I promise.

In a way to compare the two films is almost an injustice to a degree. Certain aspects of the 1984 film were expanded upon like how the devices worked. One thing I loved about the 2016 version was the lack of skirt chasing, or pant chasing? Anyway, the heart of the original was there: the quirkiness of the characters from the original was there and even that was original.

The humor in this 2016 version was more my style. Sure, the 1984 version had its moments, however, I found the humor much more appealing, likely due to its relevance to the situation, like the Ken doll situation. One more thing about the humor in this film was the self-awareness the 2016 version had: I don’t know if it’s a race this or a lady thing, but I’m mad as hell (Patty). We must save the pretty receptionist! I simply love how the director or writer poked fun at dumb blonde jokes, but putting an attractive dumb blonde male in there as the receptionist as opposed to the snippy receptionist.

I loved the cameo’s! More on those in a bit.

Anyway, the 1984 version, to me at least, had drier humor than the 2016 version. The humor seemed more active, but this may just be the generation gap rearing is ghostly head. Bill Murray’s deadpan delivery of the one-liners is certainly brilliant and all he needed to do was tilt his head a certain way and that body language was all he needed to bring the joke home. Abby’s joke, “Your virginity is at the lost and found for you to pick up.” That certainly gave me a chuckle.

I can’t help but want to separate the two films. In a way, they are twins some 30 years apart, but they are unique and wholly their own in many ways. Aside from the casting and parallels, the 2016 version function like a parody of its predecessor and some parts of the predecessor show up, which I found added a great touch and I could rant on about Murray’s role as a renowned skeptic in the 2016 version. The cameo was akin to poking fun and paying homage to the original. That Ozzy cameo was a hit with me.

The ladies held their own, despite the sexist comments by some viewers. I’m of the opinion this film 

was designed and written to be a bite of the thumb to the sexist, misogynists specters floating around pestering those who do something with their lives. Moving on.

I simply adored the ladies for their acting. If I had anything to gripe about, which was said in the film: Patty seemed more like a stereotype than an actual character. I found her funny as hell, but there was just something about how she was portrayed that poked me in the back of my head. Virgo was such an odd duck from a strange pond—I loved her. The contrast between Abby and Erin were visible, almost tangible. They both loved what they did, but Erin had so much to learn from Abby and vice versa. This film did its original material justice. 

I think my bias showed just a bit.