It’s showtime! The Juice is loose once again in the sequel to the cult classic Beetlejuice.
The sequel begins with a tragedy for the Deetz family, which causes them to gather at their infamous ghost house and wake old demons. When Lydia’s (Winona Ryder) daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega) goes missing, she’s forced to summon Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) for help.
As far as sequels go, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice can stand on its own while also giving you a nostalgic feeling. Its strength is bringing back most of the original cast and using them. Believe it or not, Michael Keaton doesn’t have much screen for this sequel. It’s a smart decision on director Tim Burton’s part. His energy and charisma are always a delight, and just as you begin to miss him, Keaton pops in at precisely the right moment. He’s why you’ll see this movie, and he delivers on the promise that it will be fun. The only issue was that his entrance felt like it needed to be grander.
Winona Ryder’s mature version of Lydia doesn’t stand out, but it is essential to the plot. She’s a fantastic actress, but her character lacks depth. Jenna Ortega fits seamlessly into this world and is the perfect choice for Lydia’s daughter. Ortega is Burton’s new favorite actress to use in his projects. There was a fear that she would reprise her “Wednesday” role in this film, but all thoughts of that are washed away the second she enters the screen. She has the same morbid outlook on life as Ryder’s character had in the first film, but she brings a new energy to this franchise. To round out the Deetz women, Catherine O’Hara reprises her role as Delia and completely steals the show. She’s a heightened version of Delia this time, and her moments on-screen are so delicious that you begin to crave more.
Unfortunately, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice suffers from too many plots happening at once. The story is so convoluted that the setup takes far too long, resulting in quick solutions. In fact, you can completely cut Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, and even Justin Theroux’s characters out, and it wouldn’t impact the movie in the slightest. If the creators had focused on one character, like Jenna Ortega, we would have been able to have more character development and sympathy for how she gets into certain situations.
Conclusion
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is an enjoyable movie that suffers from a convoluted plot. It’s heavy on nostalgia while still being original. Because Burton mainly used the same production design and practical effects, the campy nature of the original film is kept. Danny Elfman returns with his signature score, solidifying the film in the same universe. With the opening notes, you’re immediately pulled into the picture. The score was captivating, and the music used throughout was brilliant. It was also delightful to see the original cast return. Nothing can replace the original movie, but this is pure Tim Burton entertainment.
Parents Be Aware
I suggest parents take the PG-13 rating seriously and proceed with caution. For a “family film,” a few parts are too adult. There is coarse language throughout and scenes that may be too frightening for little ones.
Review: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Score
Review Nation Score
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is an enjoyable movie that suffers from a convoluted plot. It's heavy on nostalgia while still being original. Because Burton mainly used the same production design and practical effects, the campy nature of the original film is kept. Danny Elfman returns with his signature score, solidifying the film in the same universe. With the opening notes, you're immediately pulled into the picture. The score was captivating, and the music used throughout was brilliant. It was also delightful to see the original cast return. Nothing can replace the original movie, but this is pure Tim Burton entertainment.