| Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures |
Nothing quite embodies the unique spirit of the original 1988 Beetlejuice. It’s an inspired, artsy blend of quirky horror and dark comedy with iconic moments and characters that have persevered for decades now. Tim Burton was in his most quintessential era during its release, and his legion of fans who adored his playfully macabre vision were growing. Now, shortly after receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and nearly 40 years later, Burton comes full circle in a triumphant return to form with the release of his appropriately named Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
In this delayed but delightful sequel, audiences revisit many of the characters they came to know in the original film. Lydia (Winona Ryder) has monetized her psychic abilities by becoming a famous medium on a paranormal television show, much to the chagrin of her teenage daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega), who doesn’t believe in ghosts, resents her mom, and misses her dearly departed dad. To make matters worse, Lydia’s self-absorbed beau Rory (Justin Theroux) is a horrible substitute of a father figure to poor Astrid. Lydia’s stepmother Delia (Catherine O’Hara) is now a well-known modern artist who takes her former eccentricities to the next level. After the funeral of a family member brings all of these characters back to Winter River, strange occurrences happen that make Lydia realize her mischievous otherworldly stalker Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) has never truly left the house in which she was first haunted by him. In fact, he’s still a bit obsessed with her. Meanwhile, in the afterlife, Beetlejuice’s soul-sucking ex-wife Delores (Monica Bellucci) has been resurrected due to an unfortunate accident and is wreaking havoc with everything in her path, looking for her dear husband again after an abrupt separation. Former actor/would-be detective Wolf Jackson (Willem DaFoe) attempts to hunt her down before she causes too much chaos, and in the process, far more chaos ensues on all fronts for each of these aforementioned characters.
One of the aspects that elevates Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is its strong cast, who bring 110% to this film. All of the actors from the previous film breathe new life into their characters and bring apropos updates regarding where they’re at in life. Comedy diva Catherine O’ Hara is especially brilliant in her revival of Delia, and Michael Keaton hasn’t skipped a beat since his previous portrayal of the Ghost With the Most. Winona Ryder is captivating as she depicts Lydia’s evolution from an angsty teenager rebelling against her parents to a mother herself trying to connect with her daughter. Newcomers to this film like Jenna Ortega feel like organic additions to the cast and bring a sense of familiarity without entirely treading old water. Even composer Danny Elfman comes back to make a score that pays homage to the classic one with fresh elements all its own.
Another exceptional quality of this film is Tim Burton’s choice to use practical effects rather than CG, which contributes heavily to the ethereal yet palpable atmosphere of the sequel, matching if not exceeding the original one. The ominous waiting room in the afterlife is reinvigorated in this sequel with more clever-looking, cartoonish ghosts than ever, each donning clear indicators of their demise. Even claymation has its part in creatively bringing the narrative to this film to life, bringing a nostalgic feel to anyone who was alive when it first came out. Insisting on practical effects was an important choice to keep this modern film with all of its polish feeling like a worthy companion piece to the ‘88 predecessor.
The pacing of the film was also impressive. For a plot with seemingly unrelated storylines being juggled back and forth, it manages to flow well, make sense, and never lose momentum. Better yet, all of the initially random aspects of the film are neatly tied together by the end. Certain elements that most films would linger on — Astrid’s budding romance with a boy in town, for example — don’t outstay their welcome, with each scene contributing to moving the story forward rather than dwelling in saccharine sentiment. It consistently puts its comedic energy above anything else, with the only exception being its stylish depiction of the great beyond, and that was the right choice to make.
One aspect of this sequel that will likely polarize people is how much of a fan service it often is. For every classic moment in the first film, there is a direct reference to it in this one. Sometimes it’s subtle, and sometimes it’s painfully blatant. Regardless of where people’s preferences are on that scale, it’s clear that all of it is done with a love of the source material and its fans rather than a cheap draw to win more ticket sales. No matter how much bigger the budget this sequel had, it’s clearly a love letter — to its memorable characters, to its loyal fans, and to its enduring legacy in pop culture.
Tim Burton said that his choice to make Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was a deeply personal one, and it shows. Much like all of the actors returning to the film, this was clearly a passion project for him. Some people will watch this sequel and say the original will never be topped, and they might be right. One thing’s for certain, however: Tim Burton’s still got it, and this is easily the best film he’s done in decades.
— Andrea Riley
#Juice #Loose #Beetlejuice #Beetlejuice #Reviewed
