I watched Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and I really liked it! 4/5
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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a delightfully chaotic return to Tim Burton’s Gothic playground, offering fans a nostalgic trip down memory lane while injecting new life into the franchise. With Michael Keaton reprising his role as the mischievous, politically incorrect poltergeist Betelgeuse, and Winona Ryder returning as Lydia Deetz, this long-awaited sequel balances its quirky humor and macabre sensibilities, delivering a fun and visually inventive ride. While not as groundbreaking as the original, it’s a worthy follow-up that embraces its weirdness and expands on its ghostly lore.
Set over three decades after the first film, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice finds Lydia as a mother, estranged from her daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega) following the tragic loss of Astrid’s father, Richard. While Lydia grapples with her haunted past and her strained relationship with Astrid, Betelgeuse seizes the opportunity to wreak havoc, forcing Lydia, Astrid, and an ensemble of new and returning characters to navigate the afterlife’s increasingly absurd chaos. The film retains the essence of its predecessor, blending offbeat humor with a heartfelt exploration of family and legacy.
Michael Keaton is, once again, the film’s chaotic heartbeat. His Betelgeuse is just as devious, crude, and unpredictable as ever, commanding the screen with his anarchic energy. Keaton fully embraces the character’s lack of growth—Betelgeuse is as hilariously incorrigible as he was in 1988—and it’s a joy to watch him cause havoc while refusing to evolve in any meaningful way. Winona Ryder brings depth to Lydia, capturing the character’s evolution from a brooding teen to a mother struggling to connect with her daughter. Jenna Ortega’s Astrid is a standout, delivering a compelling mix of skepticism and curiosity as she uncovers her own supernatural abilities.
The supporting cast adds plenty of color to the proceedings. Catherine O’Hara returns as Delia Deetz, her eccentricity dialed up to 11 as a successful art curator who remains delightfully bizarre. Willem Dafoe’s Netherworld detective Wolf Jackson adds a campy noir flair, and Monica Bellucci’s Delores LaFerve, Betelgeuse’s vengeful ex-wife, provides a chilling yet humorous antagonist. Arthur Conti’s Jeremy, a ghostly teen with a dark past, offers a fascinating subplot, though it sometimes feels underdeveloped amid the film’s many moving parts.
Tim Burton’s visual style is on full display, with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice delivering a feast of Gothic whimsy and practical effects. The afterlife is expanded with elaborate set pieces, including Betelgeuse’s grotesque office of bio-exorcists and the otherworldly bureaucracy Astrid and Jeremy must navigate. The mix of stop-motion animation and practical effects harks back to the original’s charm, while the modern visual effects add polish without overshadowing the quirky aesthetic. The frozen Sandworm-filled landscapes of Saturn’s moon, Titan, are particularly striking and showcase Burton’s knack for blending the bizarre with the beautiful.
Danny Elfman’s score adds to the film’s mischievous energy, weaving in familiar themes from the original while introducing new compositions that enhance the sequel’s expanded scope. The use of calypso music remains a delightful touch, providing moments of levity and homage to the first film.
While the film excels in capturing the spirit of Beetlejuice, it occasionally stumbles under the weight of its ambitious plot. The narrative juggles numerous subplots, from Astrid’s coming-of-age journey to Betelgeuse’s battle with Delores, and the pacing can feel uneven as a result. Some elements, such as Jeremy’s backstory and his connection to the larger conflict, could have used more development. Additionally, the film’s heavy reliance on exposition to explain the expanded lore of the afterlife sometimes slows the momentum, though it does offer intriguing world-building for longtime fans.
The humor, a blend of zany slapstick and dark wit, mostly lands, though some jokes feel slightly recycled from the original. However, the cast’s impeccable comedic timing ensures that even familiar beats remain entertaining. The climactic wedding-crashing sequence is a standout, blending chaotic humor, action, and heartfelt moments in true Beetlejuice fashion.
In the end, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a spirited sequel that celebrates its quirky roots while introducing a new generation to its wonderfully weird world. It’s not perfect, but its strong performances, imaginative visuals, and playful tone make it a worthy follow-up that captures the essence of what made the original a cult classic. For fans of the franchise, it’s a long-awaited return that doesn’t disappoint, offering a fresh dose of ghoulish fun and heartfelt nostalgia.