The Ghostbuster franchise needs to chill out for a while judging by Frozen Empire's attempts at continuing the 40-year dynasty. If the sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife had been served in the summer, instead of debuting in cold March, or even December when it was originally scheduled for release, viewers could be more forgiving. A wintery reception from critics has not warmed up early ticket sales and Empire may hit streaming services so fast that Slimer's head spins.
Beginning with a Robert Frost quote projected across the big screen from his 1923 poem Fire and Ice sets up a lofty goal for the Ghostbuster gang. The Spengler family returns to New York City with high hopes for the future but that quickly fades away as an evil presence gives The Big Apple a frosty treatment. Unfortunately, this new wraith's voice is so overproduced with a garbled speech pattern that he's almost impossible to understand.
The budget for the special effects seems to be spent on cast members instead of turning New York into a frozen tundra. The producers try to pair the old franchise with the new characters but it never meshes well.