I was 7 when the first Ghostbusters movie hit the big screen. I have vague memories of being in the family station wagon at a drive-in theater, holding on to my pillow, and jumping at the scene of the ghost in the library. I remember laughing when the guys got 'slimed' and again when they were covered in melted marshmallow after destroying the giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Those are classic scenes and because of those, and more, Ghostbusters became one of those 'classic' childhood movies for me. So when I heard that they were 'remaking' Ghostbusters, I was skeptical. When I heard they were 'remaking' it with an all-female cast, I was skeptical. It wasn't that I thought an all-female cast was a bad idea by virtue of being an all-female cast, but it was that I wasn't sure how I felt about anyone who wasn't Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson stepping in to save humanity from a ghostly infestation.

And so it was with much anticipation that I found myself seated at the theater last Friday ready for another spooktacular experience. There I sat, watching Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones, and Kate McKinnon take on the spirit world. It was not Ghostbusters as I remembered it. It wasn't, because it's not a remake. And for that, I'm so so glad. This movie is something different, something more. And something way better.

This is a movie about a group of women, smart, funny, capable women, who band together, problem-solve and kick some serious ghost butt. These are women who do not fit into one of the stereotypical female roles: sex pot, dowdy mom, airhead, or bitch. No, these are women who look, think, and act like..me. Like you. They say ridiculous things, make fools of themselves, put themselves out there, stand up for their friends, go after what they want, and fight for what they believe in. When they're told they can't do something because it's impossible, they keep on keeping on because they believe so deeply in what they're doing. How incredible is that? These are women I'm proud to see on the big screen. These are women I'd be proud to one day introduce my niece to. Because these are real women.

These are women that most of us can look at and say "Hey! That's something I'd do or say!" I can certainly identify with each of them. I could identify with Kate's quirkiness...the kind that makes you go "Huh...well, that's a little odd" because I'm a little odd (and proud of it!); Melissa's hurt over a friend's seeming betrayal; Leslie wanting to fit in with the group, but not feeling like she had anything to contribute; and Kristen trying to pretend she was someone she wasn't just to fit in. I related to all of this and more. I saw bits and pieces of myself in each of these characters. And I think that may be the first time that's ever happened for me. I don't look like, think, act, or relate to many of the "normal" Hollywood portrayals of women and truthfully, I never will. I am more than 1000000000% ok with that. I love who I am. But still, it was awfully fun to go to a movie and see women portrayed more closely to who we really are--individually awesome, but together something fierce. I mean, c'mon! These are ladies who are showing little girls that women can save the world!

On the flip side, I've read what some of the naysayers have had to say: it's a terrible movie, how these ladies ruined their childhood memories, and so on and so on and so on. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. I just want to clue some of these folks in on something: the first Ghostbusters, while it was a good movie, it wasn't an Oscar-worthy film, either. It was silly, over the top at times, and just plain fun. And that's exactly what this one is. Just because it has women at the helm doesn't diminish the franchise. This is not about men vs. women simply because it's an all-female cast. Quite the opposite, really. Because this is NOT a remake. I thought it was, but I was wrong. This is a different movie because these women are not those men. Sure, the premise is relatively the same, but it's different because they're different, the way the relate to each other and the world is different. But it was still silly, over the top at times, and a whole lot of fun. It was like reuniting with a long-lost friend. And I loved it.

This is what we want to do with GIRLS CAN! CRATE. We want to introduce fearless women, but in our case, real life women, to girls and say: "See! Women can make a difference! Girls can save the world!" Want to know more about GIRLS CAN! CRATE? Check out our website at www.girlscancrate.com.