It really appears that Hollywood cannot let go of film franchises that ought to be left alone. Whether out of financial greed or creative bankruptcy or both, there’s no stopping studios from churning out unnecessary follow-ups to classic movies.

Case in point? The “Ghostbusters” films of the 1980s, which received a sequel in 2021. (Thou shalt not mention the travesty that was the 2016 film.)

Now, a fourth instalment has entered the picture in the form of “Frozen Empire”, which takes place after the events of “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”. The new film is set in New York City, where the whole saga began, with Gary (Paul Rudd), Callie (Carrie Coon), Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), and Phoebe (McKenna Grace) serving as the official team.

Not that the original gang are idling away their retirement years: Winston (Ernie Hudson), Ray (Dan Aykroyd), Peter (Bill Murray), and Janine (Annie Potts) are still in the picture, and it isn’t long before both generations have to work closely together as a world-ending threat once again rears its ugly head.

An ancient evil, sealed within a mysterious sphere, is attempting to break free – and if it does, the world would literally end frozen with fear. So it is up to the Ghostbusters, old and new, to send this evil packing and keep NYC safe from this ghastly invasion.

First off, it must be said that the pacing of the film leaves a lot to be desired. The plot takes forever to get going, the climax is rushed, and the movie is so bloated with subplots that it can be hard to keep track of everything that’s going on.

For all the talk about the baddie being an apocalyptic danger, it appears so late in the proceedings that it’s hard to take it seriously as an actual threat. Indeed, there are so many points earlier on where one might think: “Here’s where the bad guy shows up, right?!” – only to be left disappointed.

Critics have also stated that the third act and climax should have started about 20 minutes earlier, and this reviewer agrees. In general, the script could have been tightened by cutting away some of the unnecessary characters and plotlines.

In a way, “Frozen Empire” feels more like a lengthy TV episode than a feature film, with character development and arcs in short supply thanks to the cumbersome cast. This is a shame, given that players such as Grace’s Phoebe and Logan Kim’s Podcast, who had good chemistry in “Afterlife”, are not given enough time to rekindle their dynamic.

When it comes to performances, Grace shines, as she did in the previous instalment, and the investment into her character spares the movie from being completely soulless. Meanwhile, shame on the filmmakers for not utilising Wolfhard more, as his talents are largely squandered here.

Of course, it’s nice to see some of the old faces returning, offering a sense of nostalgia to long-time fans. And the comedy largely still works, with the immortal Rudd and new character Nadim (Kumail Nanjiani) bringing a few laughs to the table.

Overall, “Frozen Empire” isn’t terrible, but it certainly could’ve been better. By mixing old and new, there’s still some entertainment value, but cutting out the bloat and allowing the story to breathe would’ve resulted in a much superior outing.

So, is it time to bury the franchise? Not yet, though the hand is much closer to the shovel than it was before.

As of press time, ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.