Busting ghosts dates back to 1984 when Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson saved New York City from a giant Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man and an assortment of other spirits. And wouldn’t you know it, they saved it again in 1989. Aside from a lackluster attempt at a remake in 2016, there was no more busting ghosts until 2021 and the long anticipated “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”, a film that introduced a new generation of busters while bringing back the originals (minus Harold Ramis who died in 2014).

“Afterlife” came out on the backend of COVID-19 and was a modest box office success. Enough so to earn itself a sequel, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”. Directed by Gil Kenan, “Frozen Empire” has a lot in common with its predecessor. For example, it’s chock full fan service from the opening titles to the ending credits. And while it has its nostalgic charms, it doesn’t offer much that will stick with anyone other than the Ghostbusters franchise die-hards.

The biggest issue with “Frozen Empire” revolves around its script. It’s a case of a movie having too much going on. Much of it feels recycled while anything resembling a new angle is undercooked. And despite several drawn-out stretches where not much happens, there are characters and subplots that never get the attention they need. It doesn’t help that the film is not especially exciting, not at all creepy, and not very funny. That’s a shame considering “Frozen Empire” brings back what is a terrific ensemble. But so many of its characters get lost in the crowd.

Written by Kenan and “Afterlife” director Jason Reitman, the overstuffed “Frozen Empire” goes down several different paths. First you have the ghostbusting family of Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon), her boyfriend Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd), her 18-year-old son Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), and her 15-year-old daughter Phoebe (Mckenna Grace). They live and operate out of the old Manhattan firehouse from the original films, protecting New York City from all kinds of spectral threats. But rather than being lauded, they’re constantly hounded by their arch-nemesis and the city’s new mayor, Walter Peck (William Atherton reprising his role).

Meanwhile Ray Stantz (Aykroyd) runs an old antique and book shop built around ghostly artifacts. He purchases a mysterious orb from a customer named Nadeem (Kumail Nanjiani), a character who epitomizes what happens when comic relief goes bad. As Ray is testing its PKE levels, the orb emits an energy blast that shakes the city and damages the firehouse’s ecto-containment unit. That can’t be good.

Ray rushes the artifact to the underground Paranormal Research Center ran by Winston Zeddemore (Hudson). With the help of Peter Venkman (Murray) the old Ghostbusters learn that the orb holds a malevolent spirit named Garraka. Patton Oswald shows up, unloading ton of momentum-killing exposition about Garraka, his power-hungry past, his powers (he can freeze stuff), and some uninteresting stuff about a group of sorcerers called Fire Masters. It goes without saying that Garraka escapes, puts the Big Apple into a deep freeze and it will take the Ghostbusters young and old to stop him.

As the main story chugs along, there are a couple of well intended plot lines that fall flat. One tries to add a coming-of-age flavor and involves Phoebe trying to find herself and where she fits in the world. She hits it off with a ghost named Melody (Emily Alyn Lind) but the relationship that forms between them is rushed and poorly defined. Then there is the subplot of Callie, Gary, Trevor, and Phoebe discovering what it means to be a family. This is something that could have fit in nicely with the central story, but as with so much else, it never gets the attention it needs to matter.

There’s no doubt that some will be drawn to its heavy nostalgia; other to its playful spirit and fun visual effects. But those things alone can’t save “Frozen Empire” from its overstuffed story, too many characters, and its overall lack of anything original. Things often defy logic, some characters get completely lost (poor Wolfhard), and there’s no emotional resonance to speak of. I wouldn’t call this the death knell for the series. At the same time it wouldn’t surprise me if this is the final Ghostbusters adventure we get. But as usual, it’s up to the box office to determine that. “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” is in theaters now.

VERDICT – 2 STARS