Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a triumphant return to a beloved franchise and titular character, unafraid to embrace its quirkiness while presenting a genuinely heartfelt story. The film picks up approximately 35 years after the original (the same time jump that has occurred in real life since the first film), once again following Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) as she navigates life in a world where ghosts are real: and she is the only one who can see them. Lydia has become a celebrity since the events of the first film, working as a talk show host who investigates paranormal occurrences in her audience’s homes. After a death in the family, Lydia must face her past head on, crossing paths once again with the demon known as Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton).
Featuring a collection of weird and fascinating performances, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice excels in creating unforgettable characters. Namely, Keaton steals the show as Beetlejuice himself, falling right back into the role as if he never left it. The franchises’ new editions such as Astrid Deetz (Jenna Ortega), Dolores (Monica Belluci) and Wolf Jackson (Willem Dafoe), provide laughs, tears and some scares as well. A lot of the movie follows Lydia and her daughter, Astrid, as they attempt to mend their estranged relationship. These scenes are the beating heart of the film, consistently giving the audience a reason to care. Dolores (Belluci) is an intimidating villain whose entrance is one of the coolest scenes of the year. Dafoe’s character is played off for comedic value, and he consistently brings a lot of humor to the film. Many may argue that the side plots surrounding these minor characters are pointless; however, we believe these enhance the movie as a whole and make the final resolution of the film more worth it. Additionally, the plot being eccentric, fast paced, and intriguing, makes the movie enjoyable whether you are familiar with the original and invested in the beetlejuice cinematic universe, or if you are completely unfamiliar with it. It is unarguably entertaining, and even those who don’t know the original movie would be able to follow along. The movie also does a good job of incorporating small details of context to portray the significance of different parts of the movie in reference to the original.
One of the best aspects of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the manner in which it expands upon the plot of the original film. It furthers Lydia’s character, while also building Astrid’s. It is especially powerful to observe the relationship between Astrid and her temporary love interest, and how that parallels Lydia’s and Beetlejuice’s relationship in the original. Fans of the first movie may also notice the reappearance of a familiar book (Handbook for the Recently Deceased). All in all, the newer film both pays respect to and continues to develop the plot of the original. However, some new features of the newer film enhance it and make it even more of a spectacle!
Tim Burton commits heavily to the 80’s vibe, using mostly practical effects instead of modern CGI, respecting the original movie’s style. The Neitherworld of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is filled to the brim with quirky undead beings, many of which showing the way they died through their character design. The effects are both gross and really well done: missing limbs, shark bites and more are represented in a comical light, paying homage to the original and following Tim Burton’s unique aesthetic. Burton’s almost cartoonish editing style makes the gore less frightening and keeps the movie a healthy level of disturbing, while prioritizing artistry. What enhances the 80’s vibe the most is the film’s fantastic soundtrack. As mentioned earlier, Dolores’ entrance is one of the coolest parts of the movie and is enhanced greatly by the Bee Gees’ Tragedy playing in the background. Also, the film attempts to redo the first film’s famous scene featuring Harry Belafonte’s Banana Boat song, this time with MacArthur Park by Richard Harris. Overall, the aesthetics of Tim Burton’s world remain intact.
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice is an eccentric, comedic, and nostalgic film that continued the legacy of the original movie, and Burton’s iconic work. While the movie was the perfect amount of modern and different from the original, it still kept the same style and many of the same actors. The movie is definitely a must-see for anyone who enjoys 80’s films or comedy-horror movies. Regardless of if you have seen the original, this movie is well-made from all angles and can be enjoyed by anyone. Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice is out now in theaters, and we highly recommend that you go check it out!
