This would be the third week we’ve had a film that clearly places fan service as it’s ‘raison d’etre’. If we’ve had Spider-Man: No Way Home, and The King’s Man, we now have Ghostbusters: Afterlife, a production that has direct links to, and pays homage to, the original Ghostbusters film of 1984. And to its credit, it does this in a manner that’s quite ingenious, knowing that there’s a need to tack on a fresh narrative, and involve the young stars of today, in order to spark interest with the younger audience.

In the USA, this film actually opened before Spider-Man: No Way Home; and while it didn’t enjoy the breakaway success of the web-slinger’s film, it did top the box-office the week it was released and performed beyond expectations, sparking life in the box-office at the time. While many conceded that it wasn’t a perfect film, and relied a bit too heavily on fan service and echoing beats of the original 1984 film, there obviously was enough to make its mark, and be an easy crowd favorite.

There’s a prologue that offers a foretaste of what’s to come, as the gadgets from the original film are utilized by an unidentifiable person in a deserted countryside farm location. He’s entrapping an evil spirit/ghost, and it’s evident that his well laid preparations aren’t working, and so he accepts his fate. Then we’re introduced to a nuclear family composed of single Mom, Callie (Carrie Coon), her 15-year-old, Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), and her geeky, science-obsessed daughter, Phoebe (the excellent McKenna Grace).

Down on their luck and living in the city, it’s explained that their saving grace is that Callie’s absentee father just passed away, and left her this country farmhouse. And as the saying goes, we’re off to the races, just anticipating as things fall into place, and we get to discover the kid’s Grandfather is no other than the unidentified man in the prologue, and the country home are one and the same.

No spoilers here, so I’ll end on this plot introduction, and leave you to enjoy the unraveling of the storyline when you catch the film at cinemas come Feb. 16. Let me just say that if you’re of that generation that avidly watched the 1984 original, there are a bevy of references and Easter eggs that will keep you happy throughout the film. And for the first-time Ghostbusters watchers who might have been drawn in by Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard being a major cast member here, there’s a compelling narrative, and comedic tone, that will keep you riveted to your seats.

What came as a surprise to me, though, is how the film’s true star is none other than Phoebe, as played by McKenna Grace. She may be familiar to you as the moppet/budding genius in Gifted, where she starred with Chris Evans; or as the young Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel. Playing younger than her actual age of 15, McKenna is wonderful as a girl who’s a true nerd, unable to exhibit much emotion, and in possession of a truly weird, science-related, sense of humor. It’s brilliantly done, and she’s easily the most interesting of the characters in this film.

As for scene-stealer, I’d give that honor to Logan Kim, a child actor who plays Podcast, and becomes Phoebe’s classmate and sidekick. He matches the comedy of McKenna, and is given so many of the hilarious, throwaway lines - that he delivers with panache. Paul Rudd is on board as Mr. Grooberson, the summer school science teacher, and it’s a typical Rudd performance, 90 percent charm and 10 percent disarming one-liners.

If this is the rebirth of the Ghostbusters franchise, it’s a much more assured step, and it would be exciting to watch what Director Jason Reitman will have up his sleeve. Jason is the son of Ivan Reitman, the one who directed the 1984 original, so that’s some astounding synchronicity. Far more effective than the reboots or sequels we’ve been offered in the past, this Afterlife is the true sequel to the 1984 film, and the supernatural comedy we can all enjoy.