It’s been 36 years since we last spent time with the Deetz family in 1988’s Beetlejuice. Attempts to make a sequel to the film have gone on for years — with the most discussed being Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian. But alas it is 2024 A.D and Burton has finally returned to the ghost with the most with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
It’s Showtime
The plot follows the Deetz family returning to Winter River after an unexpected family tragedy. Lydia, still haunted by Beetlejuice, now has a daughter Astrid, who discovers Adam Maitland’s model of the town in the attic. Astrid ends up opening a portal to the Afterlife and Lydia must team up with Beetlejuice to save her.
Michael Keaton has lost nothing, even after so long. His performance is as high-energy and wacky at 73 as at 46 – and Ryder is good, even if she seems more Joyce Byers than original Lydia Deetz. New additions: Jenna Ortega (Astrid) and Justin Theroux (Rory) fit right into the zany world of the film, however, it’s Catherine O’Hara’s glorious return as Delia Deetz that steals the show (time!). Her comedic timing is just exceptional and her storyline is the most emotional and endearing as she struggles with the death of her husband Charles Deetz.
“It actually feels like these characters have been living their life’s in this universe for all these years”
Revisiting the original characters feels natural. It actually feels like these characters have been living their life’s in this universe for all these years. Although it does fall into the slightly awkward sequel “bringing the cast back together” trope in it’s first act, once things get going, it’s like we never left the Deetz’s behind.
However, Monica Bellucci as Delore’s (Beetlejuice’s Ex-Wife) feels shoehorned in. While Bellucci’s performance is fine, the character is wholly unnecessary and adds nothing to the plot. It makes the first act very messy as it juggles set-up for her and Wolf Jackson (played by Willem Dafoe) storyline’s (another unneeded, even if fun, plotline) and the main Deetz plot. They aren’t at all bad characters but viewers who have waited over 3 decades to see the Deetz’s return may be slightly irritated by their amount of screentime.
“BOB is delightful”
Burton’s creative juices are flowing again with a creative clay-mation sequence, stop-motion and expansion of the crazy afterlife including a “soul train”. The inclusion of BOB is also delightful and the biggest source of laughs other than O’Hara and he will definitely become a fan-favourite.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the rare legacy sequel that just works. Everyone is having a great time and it shows. None of the creativity has been lost, and even if it gets messy at points, it’s easily the most fun film of the entire year and a definitive new Halloween classic.
Featured Image Credits: Warner Brothers Pictures