Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (July 20, 2016)
July 20, 2016 The Skanner Page 7 Film Review: ‘Ghostbusters’ Far Funnier Than the Original Arts & Entertainment The ‘Ghostbusters’ Interview: Who You Gonna Call? Kate and Leslie! By Kam Williams For The Skanner News C Leslie Jones, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, and Kate McKinnon star in the new ‘Ghostbusters’ movie. By Kam Williams For The Skanner News R eleased way back in the summer of ‘84, “Ghostbusters” raked in almost a quarter-billion dollars at the box oice, making it the most successful comedy of the 1080a. Enough time has apparently passed to remake the much-beloved farce, though director Paul Feig (“Bridesmaids”) has seen it to tweak the plot, starting with changing the gender of the leads from male to female. Wisely, Feig has not only tapped a quartet of consummate comediennes in Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones but crat- “ Holtzmann (McKinnon), Professors of the Paranormal at the mythical Higgins Institute of Science. The eccentric academics are gung ho to explore the haunted house, despite the fact that they have been unable to prove the existence of any appari- tions. En route, they pick up Abby’s estranged BFF, relatively-skeptical Co- lumbia Professor Erin Gilbert (Wiig), and Patty Tolan (Jones), a token booth clerk scared by a spook she saw in a subway tunnel. But the fallout from bad buzz caus- es all the profs to lose their jobs. Un- deterred, they proceed to turn a lot above a Chinese restaurant into a re- search lab, hire a handsome, half-wit- ...a hilarious reboot that pays homage to the irst ilm while remaining refreshingly unique ed a script which plays to each of their respective strengths. The upshot is a hilarious reboot that pays homage to the irst ilm while remaining refresh- ingly unique in its own right. Plus, the movie features surprisingly-amusing appearances by original cast members Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson and Annie Potts in new roles. The point of departure is stately Al- dridge mansion in Manhattan, where we ind a tour guide (Zach Woods) in- advertently releasing the disembod- ied spirit of Gertrude Aldridge (Bess Rous), a serial killer who had been per- manently locked in a dungeon and fed through a slot in the door ater killing all of her family servants in 1894. An at- tack by the evil apparition prompts the slimed victim to enlist the assistance of Abby Yates (McCarthy) and Jillian ted secretary (Chris Hemsworth) and convert a hearse borrowed from sassy Patty’s mortician uncle (Ernie Hudson) into the oicial Ghostbusters mobile. Cue the resuscitated, Oscar-nominated theme song. Soon, these self-proclaimed “Conduc- tors of the Metaphysical” develop an arsenal of high-tech gadgets ranging from ray guns to a ghost shredder to a motion-activated proton glove. And not a minute too soon, since the next thing you know, New York City is being invaded by an army of menacing appa- ritions. A laugh-a-minute, female empower- ment fantasy far funnier than the orig- inal. Excellent HHHH Rated PG-13 for action and crude humor Running time: 116 min omedienne Leslie Jones was hired as a writer by Saturday Night Live in 2014 and quickly gained popularity ater a mem- orable on-air appearance during the show’s “Weekend Update” segment. So, she was subsequently oicially invited to join SNL’s ensemble cast during the show’s 40th season. Earlier this year, Leslie shared the stage with Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock and Whoopi Goldberg in an epic Academy Awards sketch in a montage re-imagining some classic, Oscar-win- ning ilms with black actors. Her mov- ie credits include Chris Rock’s “Top Five,” Judd Apatow’s “Trainwreck,” and the upcoming Masterminds, co-starring Kate McKinnon and Kris- ten Wiig. Currently, Leslie can be seen on TV in an Allstate Insurance commercial that’s in heavy rotation. Kate McKinnon is also an SNL cast member and has been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards for her work on the show. Since coming aboard in April 2012, she has enter- tained viewers with her critically-ac- claimed impersonations of Hillary Clinton, Justin Bieber and Ellen DeGe- neres. Kate was recently seen in Sisters op- posite Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and as the voices of Wife Fish in Finding Leslie Jones Dory and of Stella in The Angry Birds Movie. In December, she’ll co-star opposite Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston in Oice Christmas Party. Kam Williams: Hi Leslie, hi Kate. Thanks for the interview. Kate McKinnon: [Shouts] Kam! how are you? Leslie Jones: Hey, Kam. KW: I’m doing great, and I absolute- ly loved this ilm. See INTERVIEW on page 11 WHOLESALE PRICES • OPEN TO THE PUBLIC When were out, WE'RE OUT! Interstate Meat Company Made to order Hamburger Paties 10# OR GREAT F ! BBQs Quick Frozen 5/1, 4/1, 3/1 $24.99/cs ! JUST IN FLETCHER’S Black Forest Ham 4/6# $1.49/lb Very unique and at a great price! 231 SE Alder, Portland, OR 97214 • 503-238-1360 Hours: Monday - Saturday 8am - 4pm