From Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire to Irish Wish, Should You Add These To Your Watchlist?
From busting ghosts to wishes come true, the writers of Pop Culture Planet share the movies you can’t miss… and the ones you can.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
The Spenglers now reside in the iconic New York City firehouse and have made ghostbusting a family business in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes a horrifying evil, both new and veteran Ghostbusters must unite to save the world from a second ice age.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire feels like it’s trying to cram three movies into one. There’s too many characters, too many arcs, and not enough development. The main cast is underutilized, while the veteran Ghostbusters make glorified cameos that don’t add to the story. While the main villain’s design is terrifyingly cool and Kumail Nanjiani is a delightful new addition, the story and dialogue are weak. There are huge revelations with this new villain and a teenage girl ghost that aren’t explored on a deeper level. Even the attempts at giving Mckenna Grace’s Phoebe a Casper-style queer love interest are lackluster at best. By the end, this was a disappointing turn in the Ghostbusters franchise that made me wish I could get my two hours back.
- Kristen Maldonado
Irish Wish
My one wish for this film is that they would’ve actually utilized the one and only Lindsay Lohan to her full potential instead of having her essentially as a stand in to draw an audience. The only way to really describe this new Netflix rom-com is that it’s like a train wreck you can’t keep your eyes off of. I’m not even sure this film should be considered a romance as there was no tense build up to anything and only one, long, and awkward kiss at the very end.
I stumbled upon this movie as I was looking for a cheesy rom-com on a Friday night, but sadly this movie didn’t check the box — it was just downright bad. With editing that was choppy, a storyline too similar to Lohan’s Freaky Friday, and a plot that was too predictable, this movie didn’t stand a chance of being good right from the start. My Irish Wish is for Lindsay Lohan to have a true comeback and star in great movies again!
- Danielle Forte
Problemista
It takes brilliance to critique society in a way that doesn't leave your audience walking away feeling overwhelmed and devastated. Julio Torres manages to spark dialogue that is relatable and intentional about sponsorships, immigration, and bank fees in Problemista. We follow the story of Alejandro, an aspiring toy maker whose mother created a perfect world for him as a child in Venezuela. They are both creators and, because of her love, he is able to chase his dreams to New York City. That is until he discovers that the immigration system in America is a never-ending maze of defeat. Alejandro says as little as possible, but communicates volumes. He mirrors the life of so many immigrants who move to New York City and beautifully articulates the awkwardness and exhaustion of the immigration process.
Problemista is indeed an acquired taste. its fantastical elements and dry humor blend well, although it left me uncertain of its direction for most of the movie. The film is fairly short, and there's so much time spent building up the plot that by the end of it, I was thinking, "What's the point?" But I walked away realizing that the point is to create a space for people to connect. I didn't become deeply invested in the characters, but I did become deeply invested in the storyline. Bringing the audience into the fantasy world created a playful atmosphere that captured real life and all the messiness that comes with it.
- Makkedah Ramsey
