Ghostbusters: Answer The Call Blu-ray Review

By: Lynn Barker

In Ghostbusters: Answer the Call, a group of NYC scientists specializing in the paranormal enlist a city-wise subway worker and a dim-but-hunky male receptionist to take care of ghostly awakenings caused by a nerd seeking revenge on all of Mankind. Who ya gonna call? This time it’s some hilarious and smart women!

Ghostbusters with the decorated Ecto-mobileCourtesy of Sony Pictures

Haunted Book

We meet Dr. Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) and Dr. Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) who were co-authors of a book supporting the existence of the paranormal. The book doesn’t do very well so Erin has put the supernatural behind her and became a professor at Columbia University but Abby still studies paranormal happenings through a tech college with her brilliant but wacko inventor buddy Dr. Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon). It’s years later and Erin is pissed when she learns that the book is again for sale on Amazon.

Erin sees Gertrude the Ghost of Aldridge MansionCourtesy of Sony Pictures

They’re Real!

Since the book threatens her reputation and job, Erin confronts Abby who agrees to take it off the market if Erin will help her and Jillian investigate a haunting at an old mansion. The ladies confront a scary ghost so Erin again believes in them. When a video about the sighting is posted online, all the women, thought to be pathetic frauds, are kicked out of their schools. They set up an investigation office above a Chinese restaurant (they look at but can’t afford the firehouse from the original movie) and hire dim but hunky Kevin (Chris Hemsworth) as their receptionist.

Ghostbusters hire cute KevinCourtesy of Sony Pictures

The Ghostbusters

When MTA transit worker Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones) sees a ghost in a subway, she contacts the women and the gang investigates and documents the ghost and tests Jillian’s cool new proton containment laser which needs more work. Again everyone thinks they are faking these ghost encounters and start calling them “Ghostbusters”. Patty joins them since she knows a ton about New York buildings etc. She provides them with their first “car”, a revamped hearse they call “Ecto-1”.

Ghosts all over Times SquareCourtesy of Sony Pictures

Enter the Nerd

The girls don’t know that Rowan North (Neil Casey), a wacky, nerdy believer wanting to shatter the barrier between worlds to bring destructive ghosts over to our side, has been summoning them with a special device he created. More and more are appearing all over NYC. Can the Ghostbusters discover North’s plot before it’s too late? Can Jillian create the right weapons to defeat him and the hundreds of evil ghosts he is calling to join his party? Will New Yorkers ever believe that ghosts are among them and only these brave women can stop them?

Nerd villain as a ghostCourtesy of Sony Pictures

Special Extra Features

We received the “Extended Edition” which contains the film version you saw in theaters and over fifteen minutes of added unseen-till-now footage. Well worth a watch.

• There are two Gag Reels -  Lots of the cast against green screen goofing up and goofing off both verbally and physically. Very funny.
• Four Deleted Scenes – There are some new and some extended takes here. Nothing really changing what you saw but worth a watch.
• Audio Writer and Director Commentary and Filmmaker Commentary are interesting and informative, sometimes funny and with a bit of insider info.
• There are a bunch of Extended and Alternate scenes as well and they are full of jokes but you can see why they were cut for time. Certainly a fun watch.
• Jokes-a-Plenty showcases the typical comedy movie trick of letting talented comic actors just ad-lib a bunch of responses on set then the director picks what he deems the best one to place in the finished film. I think some of the ones he didn’t use were even funnier. You decide. A great featurette focusing on great comic talent.
• There are five Featurettes. The first is Meet the Team which focuses on the director speaking on his casting choices with character break-downs of what each of the Ghostbusters is really about and why each actor was perfect for the role. Interesting.

Early Ghostbusters before uniforms with new logoCourtesy of Sony Pictures

• The Ghosts of Ghostbusters features the many new ghosts from concept art to either finished costumes on actors or CGI spirits. We see SPFX guys explaining how they created each one. The Gertrude Aldridge ghost, electrocuted subway ghost and rock concert demon are featured. We see how the Times Square showdown was filmed. Really cool as we see what the actors actually saw on set while filming. It’s more than you think! Everything wasn’t CGI.
• Visual Effects: 30 Years Later continues the visual emphasis by focusing on the updates to the original 1980’s films; new hand-held weapons are created, LED lights used on actual costumes and we see how the actors didn’t just have to look at a tennis ball on a stick. At one point a green-glowing, flying drone stands in for the big green flying demon at the rock concert. More interesting visuals to watch.
• Chris Hemsworth is “Kevin” is a bonanza for Chris fans. All the actresses talk about this hunky but hilarious co-star. Nobody ever knew how darn funny Chris can be. There was so much cracking up at his wacky ad-libs that the girls could barely get a take finished. We see his crazy dance in the film come together as well. Lots of fun.
• Slime Time is all you ever might want to know about creating the famous green ghost ecto-slime in the films. We see effects guys mixing it up and shooting it all over the actors. You even get an at home recipe to use yourself this Halloween. Short but cute.

I mention the Photo Gallery on this Blu-ray because it is exceptional.. lots of great ghostly drawings! Check it out. 

The barrier to the ghost world is open!Courtesy of Sony Pictures

Wrapping Up

With “Answer the Call” added to the title for home entertainment versions, the new Ghostbusters, as played by some of the best female comics in the business, are a hoot! Especially hilarious is Jillian played by Kate McKinnon of “Saturday Night Live”. Always hot Chris Hemsworth is pretty silly/funny as the dim-witted male secretary the girls hire.

Receptionist Kevin (Chris Hemsworth) points out a visitorCourtesy of Sony Pictures

The film looks and sounds extra bright and crisp on Blu-ray. Just gorgeous! For those fans of the original movies, Slimer and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man are back! There are many tributes to the original films throughout. Watch closely for appearances by all of the major original cast in various small roles except for Rick Moranis and Harold Ramis who has passed away. All are cleverly used. Sit through the credits since there is more with Sigourney Weaver especially.

Holtzman shows Abby how to use a new weapon

Ghostbusters: Answer the Call would make a fun addition to your home collection for Halloween watching and far beyond. The extras are both informative and funny. There are so many fun extra features on this Blu-ray set that we can go five stars!

Ghostbusters: Answer the Call Blu-ray Rating:

Ghostbusters: Answer The Call Blu-rayCourtesy of Sony Pictures

You can buy Ghostbusters: Answer the Call now!

Have Your Say

Are you collecting all the Ghostbusters films? Are you okay that the new ‘busters are girls? Leave a comment!