‘Ghostbusters’: Harold Ramis Approves From Beyond The Grave

The Ghostbusters reboot has been met with mixed reactions, going as far back as the announcement that a new film was in the works. The news that Paul Feig would be introducing an all-female main cast in this new version of the original Ghostbusters has only served to amp up the criticism. Internet trolls have wasted no small effort in attempting to sabotage this reboot from the very beginning, citing a plethora of reasons we all should shun Feig’s reboot, but one reason will no longer fly. Violet Ramis Stiel reveals why haters should no longer cite her father, the late Harold Ramis, is a reason to boycott, or even dislike, the new Ghostbusters.

The Ghost Of A Ghostbuster: Harold Ramis Speaks From Beyond The Grave

The reboot for Ghostbusters was announced just shortly after the passing of Harold Ramis, and as Violet relates in an essay penned for SplitSider, the news of another version of her father’s tale came with mixed feelings. As is often the case when a loved one is lost, Violet spent time thinking about the lifetime she spent with Harold and the wisdom he often shared with her in those very special father-daughter moments.

Perhaps one of the most relevant memories revolves around a conversation the elder Ramis had with his daughter, when she observed that the animated television series, The Real Ghostbusters, featured a Dr. Egon Spengler (voiced by Maurice LaMarche) who was as far removed from Harold’s live action Ghostbusters character as could be, with blonde hair and big, red glasses, likened to those worn by Sally Jesse Raphael.

Ms. Stiel recalls asking Harold Ramis if he felt bad or betrayed that he had not been the basis of The Real Ghostbusters‘ Egon. In answering her those many years ago, it seems Ramis anticipated a renewed interest in the franchise and a younger generation carrying on with what he had created with co-writers Dan Aykroyd and Ivan Reitman.

“Umm, no. It’s fine. It’s business, Violet. The cartoon is its own thing,” explained Ramis. “The same way you used to ask if the fans knew I wasn’t really Egon? Well, I’m not. It’s a character. There was a different Superman when I was a kid. Things change. Well, some things… I think we have a ways to go before we get a hunky Jewish cartoon character.”

Violet Ramis Stiel Shares Her Father’s Ideals And Keeps An Open Mind About Ghostbusters

Initially, Violet wasn’t so enthused about the idea that there might be a Ghostbusters film without her father, going so far as to applaud Ivan Reitman’s decision to scrap a Ghostbusters sequel, following the death of Harold Ramis. Time has given her some perspective, however, and, as Chicago Tribune shares, Ms. Stiel came to understand that, while nothing can replace her father’s creation, each generation has a right to make Ghostbusters something new and fresh.

“Let’s be generous and make room for all of the visions and interpretations of what Ghostbusters can be… I reserve my right as an almost 40-year-old to mutter about how everything was better when I was young, but let’s let this generation have their own Ghostbusters,” says Violet.

Finally, the daughter takes it one step further, and as the daughter of Harold Ramis, she may very well know better how the Ghostbusters creator and actor would feel about Paul Feig’s vision than millions of strangers.

“I mourn my dad’s absence in this world as much, if not more, than anyone, but for people to say that he is ‘rolling in his grave’ or would never have let a female-centered cast happen is INSANE. In his personal life, Harold Ramis was a kind, generous, and gracious person,” writes Violet Ramis Stiel. “Professionally, he was always about sharing the spotlight and making the other guy look good. Please, stop using my dad as an excuse to hate the new Ghostbusters. It degrades his memory to spew bile in his name.”

So, feel free to hate the new Ghostbusters reboot. Hate it for the women answering the call. Hate it because you don’t like the effects. Hate it because it’s just not the original. But don’t hate it for Harold Ramis, because his own daughter thinks he would love it.

Ghostbusters is currently showing in theaters.

[Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images]