Who You Gonna Call?
Sony Pictures
Directed By: Fran Strine
Starring: Ray Parker Jr., Stevie Wonder, Ivan Reitman, Ernie Hudson, Cheryl Lynn
Plot Summary: Filmmaker Fran Strine explores the riveting true story of the man who wrote and recorded the global smash hit song “Ghostbusters,” which became a universally recognized pop culture classic. Ray Parker Jr. granted Strine unprecedented access to reveal his never-before-told life story –from overcoming nearly impossible odds growing up on the segregated streets of Detroit in the 1960s to achieving his dream of getting his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and winning a Grammy. Who You Gonna Call? pulls back the curtain to reveal Parker’s little-known yet legendary career, with Clive Davis and other music legends sharing what it was like to collaborate with Parker, both on stage and off.
For most people, especially of a certain age, when someone asks you who you intend to call, the correct auto-reply is to shout, “Ghostbusters!” Ray Parker Jr’s theme for the ‘80s classic Ghostbusters, entitled “Who You Gonna Call?”, is arguably the most iconic film theme song of all time. With the resurgence of popularity in ‘80s cinema, and the recent Ghostbusters film, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, it seems like a great time to explore the life and work of Ray Parker Jr.
Writer-director Fran Strine is very familiar with music documentaries with his previous 2016 film Gun for Hire receiving praise from critics and audiences alike. You certainly get a sense that Strine is very comfortable within music driven films. Indeed, what could have easily been a one-note documentary really flourishes thanks to Strine’s attention to detail, easy-to-follow narrative and engaging interviewees. Ray Parker Jr. is of course the focus of the film, and Parker is simply a spellbinding character who you cannot help but hang on his every single word. I really like how the movie spends a lot of time on Parker on a deeply personal level.
Of note is Parker’s run-in with being beaten by the police for literally no reason, not to mention dealing with both of his parents battling illness at the same time. Of course, this film’s main focus is on Parker’s musical career, detailing his raise to popularity, working with legends like Cheryl Lynn, Barry White and Stevie Wonder among others. Unbeknownst to me, Parker had worked on some famous songs as a rhythm guitarist. Strine is able to get a nice cross-section of artists and friends of Parker, which further helps flesh out the artist and his impact on the world of music. The highlight of the movie for me was when the topic of Ray being a sex symbol entered the conversation, with his wife and children weighing in which adds some levity to the heavier subjects touched upon.
The biggest issue with this film, and one that I think many might have, is that despite the film’s title, we the audience only get maybe 10-15mins at most dedicated to the iconic theme song. I understand why the film wants to focus on Parker on a broader level, however, let’s be real, if you’re watching this documentary, it’s because of Ghostbusters. We get some interesting tidbits, but I really was disappointed that Parker didn’t go more in depth with the process and impact of the theme song. Oddly enough, he doesn’t mention the legal issues that arose when Huey Lewis claimed that the song uses the baseline from “I Want A New Drug.” In case you were curious, the lawsuit was settled out of court. Again, I understand why you wouldn’t want to bring up what is most likely a sore subject, however, Parker talks about more deeply personal topics.
Overall, I think this is an interesting documentary that is well made, however, if you are wanting something to satiate you until the next Ghostbusters film, this will likely be a big letdown.
Who You Gonna Call? is available now to rent or own on Digital courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
An interesting documentary that is well made, however, if you are wanting something to satiate you until the next Ghostbusters film, this will likely be a big letdown.
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GVN Rating 6
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Big film nerd and TCM Obsessed. Author of The Ultimate Guide to Strange Cinema from Schiffer Publishing. Resume includes: AMC’s The Bite, Scream Magazine etc. Love all kinds of movies and television and have interviewed a wide range of actors, writers, producers and directors. I currently am a regular co-host on the podcast The Humanoids from the Deep Dive and have a second book in the works from Bear Manor.