Why Ghostbusters star Melissa McCarthy and director Paul Feig think girls rule

The all-new Ghostbusters, featuring an all-female cast, begs the question: Are women better at fighting ghosts than men? Are women, well, just better at everything in general?

“Yes. I would say yes to that,” chuckled American director Paul Feig, who also co-wrote the script with Parks And Recreation’s Katie Dippold. Feig is famous for directing comedies such as Bridesmaids and The Heat and Spy, all featuring longtime collaborator Melissa McCarthy; and in Ghostbusters, he reunites McCarthy with Bridesmaids star Kristen Wiig. Together with Saturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones, the four women make up the newly updated ghost busting team.

The film is a reboot of the 1984 comedy starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Rick Moranis.

“The original Ghostbusters was 32 years ago and it’s one of my favourite movies. And it’s such a beloved movie. But at the same time, I thought a new generation could use their own Ghostbusters. So, it’s exciting to bring a new team with a new adventure and a whole new take,” said Feig, who was in Singapore with McCarthy last month to promote the film.

Change it up, he did: the new version tells the origins story of the ghostbusters team — only this time, it happens to be an all-girl ensemble.

SPOOKS AND HEROINES

We all know women can kick ass as well as the next man, but what about when it comes to vaporising spirits?

“I think ladies make really good ghostbusters,” Feig declared. “They’re able to think on their feet, very nimble out there, able to do the action, able to fight, but also to be smart, and use psychology to get around them.”

“I think variety is the spice of life,” said McCarthy, choosing to take a neutral stance. “I’m not the type of woman who’s like, ‘Oh, men’. I work with him (Feig) all the time; I have the dreamiest husband in the world; most of my best friends are men. I think everybody gets a crack at it. But I like women. They’re pretty cool to me.”

And it’s about time women were represented faithfully, she said. “I think it’s always incredibly powerful when we see, in films and in art, the women that we are surrounded by. I am surrounded by strong, flawed, funny, heroic, crazy, loving women. And I think, for so long, we weren’t showing real women,” she pointed out.

“We were showing perfect women — they wore the perfect thing, they never got upset. I don’t know any of those women. I know women and men that are every colour and mood and emotion. Don’t be surprised when you see interesting, multi-dimensional women. That’s the goal. We’re not supposed to be perfect; we are supposed to be real.”

Agreed Feig: “What I love about Ghostbusters is that these are not superheroes. But they are superheroes because they are human, because they are smart, because they are brave, because they are ballsy, and because they sometimes make flawed decisions. They win through their smarts.”

He added: “But they can still be hurt — versus superheroes who punch through the building and get back up again. That’s what I love — that these are real people rising to the occasion. I think all women can take the message of that: You have the power within. You are smart, you are strong, you can do this, it’s okay to be flawed, but have your goal and you will win.”

SUIT UP FOR BIG LAUGHS

With four smart, strong, hilarious comediennes on set, who is the funniest? “Whoever I’m talking to at the moment,” Feig laughed. “They’re all so funny. The whole reason the original movie worked was because it had this amazing cast with this amazing chemistry. And now we have four of the funniest people on the planet. And Chris Hemsworth, who’s hilarious — so, we’re in good shape.” Hemsworth plays the quartet’s ditzy receptionist.

In any case, it’d be pretty much impossible not to have a good time on set when you’re being splattered by green slime, jumping into your pimped-up Ecto-1 ride and suiting up in what must be the world’s most flattering fashion statement: Tan jumpsuits, worn pest exterminator-style.

“I love a jumpsuit any day of the week. I make them all the time in my clothing line. I am cuckoo for jumpsuits,” McCarthy deadpanned. “All of us, literally, every time we were in the jumpsuits, were like, ‘This is what we should be wearing every day’. Tan jumpsuits – at first we were like, ‘Oh, no’. But they were actually super cute and really comfy, and we all kind of loved them.”

“Isn’t it hard to go to the bathroom?” we asked. “It’s a valid question,” she nodded. “Those had a big zipper. Zippers, guys! There’s a new thing called the zipper.”

Like dubiously coloured jumpsuits, the movie, said Feig, is even “bigger than what people are going to think it’s going to be”, and boasts big, special effects. In short, “It’s a big, giant movie”.

If fans of the original movie have any doubts about a remake, well, you won’t find bigger Ghostbusters fans than Feig and McCarthy themselves.

“I went to see it in theatres,” McCarthy said, recalling how she would save her allowance and do extra chores around the house so she could afford to see the movie several times. “I did not go back to see a movie very often, but that one, I did. I probably saw it four times in the theatre.”

Feig said: “I saw it on opening weekend when I was in film school. I was a big comedy fan and a huge fan of Bill and Harold and Dan’s. I remember saying to myself, ‘If I could ever make a movie like that, it would be so cool’. Little did I know I actually would make that movie.”

Yes, life is funny sometimes — but not nearly as funny as the afterlife, if Ghostbusters is anything to go by.

Ghostbusters opens in cinemas July 14.