Release: August 2, 2016
Film: Ghostbusters (2016)
Tagline: I ain't afraid of no reboot!
This review contains examples of:
- Angry White Man: This episode wouldn't really be about Ghostbusters if Meninists didn't interfere the Flame War.
- Broken Base: The intensely divisive nature of the film is used In-Universe as the key plot of the underlying sketch, where the Critic is confronted by a group of irate supporters and detractors. On the former side are Malcolm and agents of the Department of Bitching and Moaning, Social Justice Peck (Rob) and Vanessa (Heather); on the latter, Tamara and members of the Church of the Heavenly Proton Pack, Father Venkman (Walter) and Aiyanna.
- Both Sides Have a Point: Nostalgia Critic believes that both supporters and detractors (even lunatics) have valid reasons to love or hate this film.
- The Cameo: Besides the usual cast (Doug, Malcolm, Tamara, Rob and Jim), the Awesome Comics crew (Walter Banasiak, Aiyanna Wade, Heather Reusz and Brian Heinz) appear, as do KZ, Jason Laws, and Doug and Rob's real-life father Barney. Ghostbusters Chicago members Zach LaVoy, Steven Hessler, James Sanjurjo, Ken Trayling and Mary Jo Chrabasz also appear at the end, as well as, via video, former Nostalgia Critic cast member Rachel Tietz, on her second appearance since leaving the channel to pursue an acting career in California at the end of the 2013 season.
- *Click* Hello: The review starts with the Critic entering his studio, only to be greeted by Tamara and Malcolm holding him at gunpoint.
- Clip Show: Inverted — because the film was still in theaters, Doug used props and his own cast to portray characters in the film, starring Aiyanna as Jillian Holtzman, Tamara as Abby Yates, Heather as Erin Gilbert, KZ as Patty Tolan, Jim as Kevin Beckman, Barney as the Ozzy Osbourne cameo, and Doug as both a university dean, a random subway graffiti artist, Mayor Bradley, Rowan North and the Dan Aykroyd cabbie cameo.
- The Dog Was the Mastermind: Much like the film's antagonist, the main villain of the review's underlying plot was somebody who was completely out of focus the whole time: Black Willy Wonka.
- Everyone Has Standards: Despite everyone's arguing about the Ghostbusters Reboot, albeit in somewhat fanatic way, everyone is absolutely disgusted with the Menenists.Father Venkmen: They do not speak for us.
- Face–Heel Turn / Evil All Along: While Black Willy Wonka did have his fair share of Ambiguously Evil deeds, he was always a faithful ally to the Critic prior to this episode. However, he reveals that he deliberately caused mass hysteria with the new Ghostbusters film because it amused him.
- Face Palm: The Critic's constant reaction to the nigh-incessant feud between the two sides of the franchise's Broken Base.
- Five-Man Band: Ghostbusters Chicago district are a team of five who show up to save the day.
- For the Evulz: After being cornered by the Critic, who repeatedly shot down his Spoof Aesops, Black Willy Wonka admits that this was his motivation for dividing the Ghostbusters fanbase with the 2016 film.
- Faux Affably Evil / Not-So-Well-Intentioned Extremist: Black Willy Wonka has many claims for why it was a good thing he started the Flame War. The Critic doesn't buy any of them so he admits he did it For the Evulz, then shoots a bird.
- It's the Same, Now It Sucks!: The Critic's opinion on the final battle with the Big Bad, which recreates the "choose the form of your destructor" scene directly from the original.
- McGuffin: Ecto-cooler soda saves the day.
- Mêlée à Trois: Midway through the review, what was supposed to be a standoff between the DBM and the Ghostbusters Church becomes this thanks to the intervention of the Meninists (Malcolm, Jim and Jason).
- Pet the Dog: The Meninists stop complaining about the film when they see that little girls can get into Ghostbusters too. Then, they leave without any more fuss, saying that they will complain about "real shit".
- Sacred Cow: The Critic's opinion on the original film, seeing it as a rare kind of success that may never be replicated again.
- The Church of the Heavenly Proton Pack also does nothing but praise the first film.
- Shout-Out: Rob's character is named "Social Justice Peck".
- Shut Up, Hannibal!: The Critic calls bullshit on all of Black Willy Wonka's reasons for driving the Ghostbusters fanbase into hysteria, forcing him to admit he did it For the Evulz.
- Soapbox Sadie: The review isn't exactly kind to Social Justice Warriors either, portraying them as accusing anyone who dislikes the film as misgyonistic.
- So Okay, It's Average: The Critic's final feelings on the film.
- Straw Misogynist: The "Menenists" return.
- Strawman Has a Point: The Critic argues that Murray has a point for preventing the release of a third Ghostbusters film, fearing that the original gang would look like a bunch of ridiculous old geezers combating special effects like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and thought that the very idea would tarnish the image of them in the original film.
- Take a Third Option: Sickened by the constant arguments of the two sides, the Critic ultimately chooses to be neutral regarding the film.
- Take That!:
- The Critic doesn't hesitate to mock the Broken Base (especially both supporters and detractors by depicting them as equally insane) surrounding the movie.
- Nobody sheds any tears when Bill Murray's character dies in the film.
- Verbal Backspace: The Ghostbusters Church representative is angrily insisting that people who don't like the movie aren't misogynists until the "Menenists" come in, then he changes it to most people who don't like the movie.
- What the Hell, Hero?:
- Critic calls out Black Willy Wonka for starting the film's infamous Flame War.
- Critic also yells at how the Ghostbusters who cameo in the film ruin their humorous jokes by following them up with unfunny jokes.
