Girl Power Rules The Big Screen

Insecure men, beware! Women took charge and wore the pants at the multiplex this summer. Two major comedies featured primarily female casts, and they showed us that there's nothing left to prove when it comes to ladies leading the way.

The reboot of "Ghostbusters," despite what all those immature online haters would have you believe, walks the fine line between nostalgia and reinvention but emerges unscathed. The new movie knows that the 1984 original is by no means broken, so they weren't trying to fix it. Instead, it's a new story with new characters that just happens to incorporate the now-famous ghost-hunting tools without feeling like a lifeless retread. The four leads (Leslie Jones, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, and Kristen Wiig) are all perfectly cast, bringing both charisma and depth to these new personalities. This revamped team isn't just female versions of their male counterparts; both the script and the actresses are wise to avoid coasting. By giving them unique qualities and mannerisms, they become well-rounded people and ultimately heroes. In an unexpectedly hilarious supporting turn, Chris Hemsworth threatens to steal the show as the well-meaning but dim-witted receptionist, allowing the movie to make some spirited jabs at onscreen objectification.

Thankfully, the film doesn't ignore its roots, gleefully acknowledging the original entry with plentiful cameos and references to appease those reluctant fans. That said, this is still a different "Ghostbusters" for a different time. A lot has changed in the 30-plus years since the first movie was released, both in filmmaking and in the world at large. This installment's broader humor and reliance on digital effects are clearly compensating for the need to appeal to a much wider audience. I maintain that even having another male-dominated cast would have been met with the same amounts of skepticism, pressure, and expectations. Those involved with the original film couldn't possibly have known right away that it would earn a place in the pop-culture pantheon or become so integral to a whole generation of moviegoers. This time around, the sentimental value places that bar a lot higher, but a genuine reverence for that value is what sets this loving remake apart from the parade of uninspired deja vu that's been plaguing theaters lately.

"Absolutely Fabulous" also has a legacy to preserve, with its own inception going back to its first TV episodes in 1992. Across five seasons and several interim specials, the misadventures of Edina (Jennifer Saunders) and Patsy (Joanna Lumley) have become iconic across multiple demographics. We can all agree that while they're hardly role models, it's refreshing to see two individuals of any gender be so unabashedly human, flaws and all. That's what has kept them relatable and relevant for so long, and the big-screen treatment is very kind to their endearing antics. Saunders and Lumley are as game as ever to revisit this world; their physical embodiment of Edina and Patsy's exasperated quirks and tics, right down to how they walk and carry themselves, is still spot-on and true to their characters. Some of the best punchlines in the film, just like the series, are completely nonverbal and delivered with a perfectly pithy look, gesture, or stance.

Even more impressive is how many others they persuaded to play along after all this time. As a testament to its staying power, the entire cast is on board for the latest outing, including a majority of the recurring guest stars and a veritable who's-who of celebrity cameos. The movie is beautifully shot across many exotic locations (it could easily double as a postcard or tourism brochure for southern France), and there are numerous homages to classic farces like "Some Like It Hot." There's even a chance that the outrageous fashions on and around our ersatz heroines could walk the awards season runway with nominations for costume design. Since the film was written and directed by women and features an entire core cast of women, it may be time to come up with a Bechdel-type test that identifies behind-the-scenes participation in addition to the existing criteria for onscreen representation. It's a brave new world for filmmaking... if the industry can swallow its pride and grow up.

Ironically, "Ghostbusters" had to push forward in spite of the fans, while "Absolutely Fabulous" is an obvious love letter that wouldn't exist without its fans. Yet they're both adaptations of previously existing material, which demonstrates the double-edged sword of fandom in show business. Since both films seem to be launch pads for new franchises, their success shouldn't have to be classified as women playing a men's game. These women -- and in turn, these movies -- are rewriting the rules of the game so that anyone can play, and everyone's invited to the fun. No party-poopers allowed!