We all know the plot and this remake is a good fun film, but it can’t quite shake the original.

So the internet was awash with possibly misogynist “this will destroy our childhood memories”. I’m guessing most of those wailing weren’t children in 1984 or they ignored how the dismal “ghostbusters 2” managed to nuke those memories quite effectively. The remake stands as a thoroughly good action comedy in its own right. The ‘shock’ of reversing the genders to four female ghostbusters is shown up as an irrelevance but does allow Chris Hemsworth to do a turn as dumb eye candy receptionist “Kevin”. The writing is sharp but perhaps lacking the memorable Bill Murray one-liners.

For a generation not versed in ghostbusters this might feel a film with a wonderful fresh concept. Four women (and Kevin) kickass to save the world from supernatural disaster with portable nuclear accelerators. What’s not to like? But the ghost of busters past who make clever cameo appearances, means the film feels too anchored, too running on someone else’s rails for it to really shine in its own right. Which is a shame because it deserves to. The film ends with the team being sanctioned by the mayor to continue and moving into the iconic firestation. So hopefully that implies further films with the ghostbusters spreading their wings into their own stories and characters. It won’t generate the same mania of the original but could add some decent female heroes to a sparse portion of the toy aisle.

Oh and stay for the credits…