GHOSTBUSTERS (12A)

Director: Paul Feig

Starring: Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones

THERESA May is set to become the second woman in British history to become prime minister on Thursday.

While over the pond, Hillary Clinton could become the United States' first female president in the next election.

There are plenty of strong women in politics but heaven forbid that a team of fictional paranormal investigators should be women.

Battling the supernatural is men's work, according to some narrow-minded internet commentators who created a backlash when it was announced that the Ghostbusters reboot would be lead by an all-female cast.

These sexist rants are even cleverly referenced in the film.

But fear not because the decision was not just made to grab headlines.

Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig), Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy), Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon) and Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones) taking the baton – or proton packs – from Venkman, Stantz, Egon and Winston works really well, offering a fresh take on the beloved films almost 30 years on.

Bridesmaids director Paul Feig takes us to a version of 21st century New York which was never invaded by the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

Striking a similar tone to the 1980s originals, Feig imagines how a slightly different team would answer the call with a beefed up arsenal of weird and wonderful gadgets.

It takes a little while to get going with a backstory we all already know.

But it feels wonderfully familiar as Gilbert, Yates, Holtzmann and Tolan battle ghosts everywhere from railway tunnels to rock gigs (look out for a great cameo) while Mayor Bradley (Andy Garcia) hilariously attempts to deny anything is happening.

The relationship between Gilbert (Wiig) and Yates (McCarthy) provides the heart of the story and McKinnon stands out as the wonderfully eccentric inventor Holtzmann (basically the new Egon).

Chris Hemsworth also offers plenty of laughs as the beyond gormless receptionist Kevin.

It is a worthy successor to 1984's Ghostbusters, especially given it had a lot to live up to but it also has its fair share of problems.

At times, the film feels lightweight and formulaic and definitely lacks a strong villain. You never really feel like the heroes are in peril.

Some of the humour falls flat and Leslie Jones' character Patty Tolan just comes across as a two-dimensional racial stereotype.

A welcome new franchise is clearly being set up here though and it is great to see many of the original cast members back for cameo parts in a number of guises as a show of support.

Who ya gonna call?

RATING: 7/10

DAVID MORGAN