Overview: In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family returns to where it all started -- the iconic New York City firehouse -- to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.

Verdict: Fire up the Ecto-1’s siren, because here we go again. Despite a chilly reception from some critics, Ghostbusters: Afterlife has spawned a sequel: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Ignoring the Paul Feig venture with Melissa McCarthy, this string of horror-comedies ties to 1984’s Ghostbusters and its 1989 sequel, Ghostbusters II, but has doubled down on lore, following the family of the late Egon Spengler.

This makes for a new chapter that is overcrowded with characters, CGI ghouls, and science yelling. While at points, there’s jokes that actually land (thanks to the likes of Kumail Nanjiani and Patton Oswalt), overall, this sequel is a confounding mix of fan service and inexplicable choices meant to cater to a broad audience. Actually, parents might welcome a warning.

Transplanted to New York City, the descendants of Egon have taken over the iconic Lower Manhattan firehouse and taken up the call to bust ghosts. Egon’s daughter Callie (Carrie Coon in cruise control) has lightened up and is shacking up with her ghost dog buddy Gary Grooberson (an unflappably jaunty Paul Rudd), who timidly steps into his role as stepdad to her kids.

Trevor (a whiny Finn Wolfhard) is 18 now, a fact he repeats over and over instead of showing any actual character growth. Phoebe (an earnest McKenna Grace) is now 15 and the solid center of this sequel, grappling with a complicated crush, child labor laws, and an icy Armageddon.

The script — from Afterlife director Jason Reitman and Frozen Empire helmer Gil Kenan — lays down an exhaustive amount of lore to set up a simple premise: Big, angry, icy deity wants to take over the world. Ghostbusters new and old must team up to stop it.

Combining the old and new crew of Ghostbusters makes for a messy movie, one that fails because of its urge to appeal to grown ups who grew up with the original two movies and their kids who might be snared by merch ploys and product placement. (Just buy Cheetos in advance. They get more screen time than several supporting characters).

This slapdash sequel brings back Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts — this time in more than cameo mode. (Thankfully, the GCI ghost of the late Harold Ramis is left to rest in peace.) Frozen Empire also loops in familiar settings like the Ghostbusters’ firehouse and the exterior of the Bryant Park library with its signature lion statues, allowing for callback scares from memorable past apparitions — including Slimer. There’s also a montage of classic clips from the past movies, TV commercials for toys and the Ghostbusters cereal, as well as the Ray Parker Jr. music video.

These allusions might make lovers of the original movies perk up in joyful recognition. But none of the old relics are given new polish. Even the original cast’s performances ranges from politely game to clearly over it. (Well, aside from Aykroyd — he is clearly elated to be back in this supernatural saddle, though his enthusiasm is not contagious). So the throwback content for grown ups is achingly faded. But the kid-focused stuff is at times shockingly miscalculated.