Extreme Ghostbusters: The Movie?

Or maybe not, what I do know is that Sony Pictures has hired “The Office” writer-producers Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg to write what Reuters is calling a “reboot” of the “Ghostbusters” franchise. Original actors and the director, Ivan Reitman, are all involved in the film’s development and may even play a non-central role in the movie. The writers previously penned the biblical comedy, “Year One,” scheduled for a 2009 release, with Harold Ramis who co-wrote and portrayed Egon in the original “Ghostbusters” films.

Every feeling I have tells me this is going to be awful. I would love to think they can pull this off, especially having a seal of approval from the original writer, but no new cast can replicate the comedic genius that was the original “Ghostbusters.” Seriously, try imagining Steve Carell, Ryan Reynolds, John Cho and Anthony Anderson running around New York being “The New Ghostbusters.” Nothing against any of those actors individually, but given the humor level of modern comedies, do you really see the same snappy dialogue or down-to-earth sensibilities of the original films being rediscovered?

Why do they even need to reboot? Every one of the original players is still alive and acting. Why not bring the Ghostbusters back as being middle-aged and having to save the city. Imagine Venkman separated from Dana and being completely detached from everything around him, Winston’s trying to put his kids through college, Ray’s married to some horrible woman who hen-pecks him constantly, and Egon’s trying to lose weight, and then they have to save New York from some ancient god. Yes, the recent Indiana Jones debacle makes me wary, but they went out with a bang 19 years ago. Why not give them one more chance?