- November 30th, 2020, 7:03 am#4942761
A perfect movie is a rare a thing. A perfect comedy is rarer still. While I’m sure we all adore & love Ghostbusters there is one joke in the film that’s...kinda awkward. And no I don’t mean in a “politically correct 2020” way. I mean in it’s execution. Since you’ve most likely read the title of this thread, I’m of course I’m talking about “The Ghost Blow Job”.
Probably 95% of us know the behind the scenes story of this scene. For those who need a refresher: It was originally apart of a cut sequence that had Ray & Winston on a GB call investigating an old Fort, “Fort Determing”. Reitman decided to cut the sequence but leave the punchline: Ray getting serviced by a ghost. Only now it’s sandwiched within the montage sequence and it’s...a dream. So when Ray & Winston disappear for awhile in the 2nd act, now you know why.
Should Reitman have cut the ghost BJ all together if they weren’t going to use the lead up to the big moment? I don’t know.
Ray getting a blowjob by a ghost is a funny idea. It fits within his characters actions. But in the narrative of the film...it’s awkward. We are taken inside a dream of Ray’s just so we can get a blow job joke. In the middle of a montage. But...hold on. That could work too. Ray is the most enthusiastic member of the group. Ghosts excite him. He LOVES them. A dream sequence could work where he gets a BJ from a ghost. But right after the montage we get this little piece of dialogue from Ray: “I’ve gotta get some sleep I’m dying”.
So why is it awkward? The insert shot of the GB’s sleeping. We can’t tell whose who, someone, Egon maybe?, is moving around while they are sleeping. And then we get a scene of Ray talking about how he hasn’t slept right after.
The original sequence had Ray trying on some generals outfit before getting “serviced”. And it’s that decision that screwed the filmmakers in editing. Had he been wearing his normal Ghostbusters outfit, they wouldn’t have needed the dream idea. He could be anywhere. On a case, in the GB HQ, whatever. But the choice to have him put on costume limited them in how they could reuse the footage elsewhere.
So what do you think? Ray getting a BJ. Should they have cut it? Reshot it(had they had the time)? Left the sequence as it was originally written? Or do you like it as is?
Personally, In a perfect world I would’ve reshot it. I would’ve ditched Ray in the uniform & had him wearing his GB attire. He’s sleeping in the GB HQ & he’s awoken by the ghost and..well...you know the rest. But that never could’ve happened since the film was down to the wire as is.
(Also anyone notice they cut out Ray Parker Jr’s “Bustin Makes Me Feel Good” lyric that should be heard right when Ray...ya know... “feels good”)
Probably 95% of us know the behind the scenes story of this scene. For those who need a refresher: It was originally apart of a cut sequence that had Ray & Winston on a GB call investigating an old Fort, “Fort Determing”. Reitman decided to cut the sequence but leave the punchline: Ray getting serviced by a ghost. Only now it’s sandwiched within the montage sequence and it’s...a dream. So when Ray & Winston disappear for awhile in the 2nd act, now you know why.
Should Reitman have cut the ghost BJ all together if they weren’t going to use the lead up to the big moment? I don’t know.
Ray getting a blowjob by a ghost is a funny idea. It fits within his characters actions. But in the narrative of the film...it’s awkward. We are taken inside a dream of Ray’s just so we can get a blow job joke. In the middle of a montage. But...hold on. That could work too. Ray is the most enthusiastic member of the group. Ghosts excite him. He LOVES them. A dream sequence could work where he gets a BJ from a ghost. But right after the montage we get this little piece of dialogue from Ray: “I’ve gotta get some sleep I’m dying”.
So why is it awkward? The insert shot of the GB’s sleeping. We can’t tell whose who, someone, Egon maybe?, is moving around while they are sleeping. And then we get a scene of Ray talking about how he hasn’t slept right after.
The original sequence had Ray trying on some generals outfit before getting “serviced”. And it’s that decision that screwed the filmmakers in editing. Had he been wearing his normal Ghostbusters outfit, they wouldn’t have needed the dream idea. He could be anywhere. On a case, in the GB HQ, whatever. But the choice to have him put on costume limited them in how they could reuse the footage elsewhere.
So what do you think? Ray getting a BJ. Should they have cut it? Reshot it(had they had the time)? Left the sequence as it was originally written? Or do you like it as is?
Personally, In a perfect world I would’ve reshot it. I would’ve ditched Ray in the uniform & had him wearing his GB attire. He’s sleeping in the GB HQ & he’s awoken by the ghost and..well...you know the rest. But that never could’ve happened since the film was down to the wire as is.
(Also anyone notice they cut out Ray Parker Jr’s “Bustin Makes Me Feel Good” lyric that should be heard right when Ray...ya know... “feels good”)