Comedy wunderkind Ivan Reitman won popular acclaim with Ghostbusters in 1984. Recently, this science-fiction comedy was inducted into the National Film Registry as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” A hit and miss sequel followed in 1989. Zooming ahead to 2016, the Ghostbusters return via a feminine touch. To quote a young fan whose joy could not be contained upon leaving the cinema, this version “was literally cool.”

Up for tenure, Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) resents old friend Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy). Apparently, their collaboration on a paranormal book could halt Erin’s career as a teacher… and it does. Never fear for a visit to the Aldridge Mansion offers spooky potential. It turns out that Abby has been working on a system for detecting and capturing ghosts.

More than the monstrous apparitions or constantly delightful McCarthy, there’s one person whose contribution stands out… as something special. Enter Kate McKinnon. She plays gadget wiz Jillian Holtzmann, and this Saturday Night Live comedian tears up the screen. In fact, she’s so sublime I believe she deserves strong candidacy for the Academy Awards. She would make a fun addition to the Best Supporting Actress legacy.

Additionally, I must congratulate composer Theodore Shapiro. He uses choirs in an inspired fashion here because I believe the human voice can underline a transcendent idea in music. For Gladiator, it represented the afterlife. Regarding Ghostbusters, Shapiro applies choral forces to evoke a spooky undercurrent, and it works splendidly. Beyond the necessity of establishing a fresh identity -- taking into account Elmer Bernstein’s 1984 contribution -- Shapiro steams ahead, opening a portal to another dimension and surpassing my expectations in the bargain.

A quirky sideshow involves Chris Hemsworth as the moronic receptionist, and he only got the job because Wiig’s character fancies him. However, the weak spot proves to be Leslie Jones. Although she seems quite funny during one sequence -- a nod to The Exorcist -- there’s not much beyond her hysterical behaviour to recommend.

Elsewhere, special guest appearances by Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Annie Potts, Ernie Hudson, Slimer and Mrs Slimer prove to be more than nostalgic. They are inspired.

(Released by Columbia Pictures and rated “PG-13”for supernatural action and some crude humor.)