Ivan Reitman
Ghostbusters - Acchiappafantasmi

THE REVIEW

"Ghostbusters" is a 1984 film directed by Ivan Reitman and starring Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray (both coming from the television show Saturday Night Live), Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and Rick Moranis.

The film, a fantasy-comedy, tells the story of a trio of doctors in parapsychology who set up a ghostbusting agency and find themselves facing a Sumerian spirit that arrives to destroy the city of New York.

From the start, a success. Reitman's film is original, well-directed, and excellently acted with now-famous gags and situations that made the film immediately a cult.

The diverse cast works perfectly: among the ghostbusters, we have Ray (Dan Aykroyd, also among the scriptwriters), Peter (a hilarious Bill Murray, whose part was originally supposed to go to the late John Belushi, who passed away two years earlier), Egon (Harold Ramis, another co-author of the story), and Winston (Ernie Hudson). The female lead is played by Sigourney Weaver as Dana, a client of the four. Even the supporting actors fit their roles exceptionally well, especially a quirky Rick Moranis as Louis, Dana's neighbor.

Numerous scenes remain memorable, including the chase for Slimer (in the original version "voiced" by Reitman himself), the date between Peter and a now-"possessed" Dana, or the arrival of the Marshmallow Man in the city. Equally memorable is the soundtrack by Ray Parker Jr., which became a true hit during that period.

The hilarious dialogues, unforgettable characters, and even the use of excellent (for the time) special effects made Ghostbusters a worldwide success, leading to, among other things, a great sequel and the birth of an animated series.

Also for an emotional reason, I feel inclined to give the highest rating to this film, undoubtedly among the best comedies of the '80s, and not only.