Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

September 4th, 2024

MOVIE: BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE

STARRING: MICHAEL KEATON, WINONA RYDER, CATHERINE O’HARA, JENNA ORTEGA, JUSTIN THEROUX, WILLEM DAFOE, MONICA BELLUCCI

DIRECTED BY: TIM BURTON

AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 ½ STARS (Out of 4)

RATED: PG-13
RUNTIME: 104 Minutes

Another title for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice might be, “How Tim Burton Got His Groove Back.” After a 36-year hiatus since the original Beetlejuice hit theaters, the master of the macabre returns to both the living and the dead, bringing most of the principal cast back along with him. With a lot riding on Burton’s first sequel since Batman Returns, the stakes are high. Three decades is a long time to wait for a sequel, and Burton’s recent films—though I’ve defended them—have been a far cry from his peak era of Batman, Edward Scissorhands, and Ed Wood. However, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice injects new life into Burton’s career with a delightful legacy sequel that’s fresh, full of ghoulish gags, and reaffirms that Beetlejuice is a character who can never truly die. You might just say there is life after death.

The film catches up with Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder), who remains true to her goth persona as the host of a TV show called Ghost House. Her vapid boyfriend Rory (Justin Theroux) is the producer, and she’s grappling with a strained relationship with her daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega). When stepmother Delia Deetz (Catherine O’Hara, who steals every scene) calls to inform Lydia of her father’s fatal shark attack, the family returns to Winter River. Meanwhile, Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton, never missing a beat) is lurking around, seeking a way back to Lydia. As Astrid gets involved with a local boy (Arthur Conti), she inadvertently opens a portal to the Afterlife, unleashing Beetlejuice’s mischief while he evades his dismembered, soul-sucking ex-wife Delores (Monica Bellucci).

The screenplay, co-written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar with a story by Seth Grahame-Smith, can be a bit convoluted at times. Nevertheless, it provides a solid reason to revisit Burton’s imaginative world, blending practical effects, stop-motion animation, and classic horror elements. The cast is having as much fun as we are watching them. Keaton effortlessly slips back into his decaying character, delivering laughs with his crass approach to love and interactions with his head-shrunken friends.

While the title character takes a bit of a backseat, the film allows the human characters to develop. Ryder’s Lydia finds a compelling arc as she shifts from being a rebellious teenager to understanding her parents’ perspective. The film is filled with brilliant gags, including a dead assistant with a javelin through her neck, a cat lady being devoured by her cats, and Willem Dafoe as a former movie star turned ghost cop who’s a scene-stealer. These elements are brought to life by the cast’s spirited performances, Colleen Atwood’s stellar costumes, and Mark Scruton’s imaginative production design.

Though Beetlejuice Beetlejuice isn’t perfect and doesn’t reach the original’s excellence, it serves as a blueprint for how a legacy sequel can succeed. It doesn’t merely wink at the camera or remind us of the past; instead, it expands and enriches the characters we already know. It’s a welcome revival for Burton, moving away from his Johnny Depp phase and returning to his former self. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a fantastic return to the ghosts and ghouls we love. Or should I say, it still has the juice.

3 ½ STARS

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE IS PLAYING IN THEATERS ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2024.

Written by: Leo Brady
leo@amovieguy.com