Tim Burton, a director who has made such a name for himself with his unique style in the dark and macabre, has recently been on a bit of a losing streak. After several years of his films not connecting with audiences, he has returned to his roots with a sequel to one of his own creations.
Monica Bellucci as Delores, Betelgeuse's scorned ex-lover. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Taking place 36 years after the original film, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” sees the Deetz family returning back to the town of Winter River after an unexpected family tragedy. Lydia, played once again by Winona Ryder, soon has her life unravel as her teenage daughter, Astrid, played by Jenna Ortega, discovers a portal to the afterlife. Meanwhile, the ghost with the most himself, Betelgeuse, played once again by Michael Keaton, arrives to bring his own brand of chaos and mayhem back into their lives as he tries to evade his own set of problems.
The Deetz family attending a funeral. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
This film was an absolute delight to watch. In many respects, some fans might have some qualms about this film. Some of the jokes may not work for some people and even then many of the cliches and the way that characters are written may not suit peoples’ taste.
However, while I do believe that many of these film criticisms are valid, they do not bother my enjoyment. The film itself does not seem to care whether it works all the way or not. You are not supposed to take it seriously or think too hard about it. The film just wants to take you on a fun ride.
This film embraces not only the classic Burton style, but also in many ways the clunkiness of his stories. While the script by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar is not amiss in any respect, it has the Burton stamp of approval in the respect that the film’s emotional moments are not as important as showing off what makes this world so much fun to be in.
Jenna Ortega as Astrid Deetz. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
The film blends so much of what worked about the original Beetlejuice so well into this new plot. From the lighting, to the costumes, to the camera work and especially the humor set to the wonderful score by composer Danny Elfman. This soundtrack rocks hard, blending old classics with new rocking 70s and 90s gems.
One thing I also love about this film is its blend between practical effects and CGI. Not only did it give a level of dimension that made it feel both realistic and cartoonish, but it also managed to avoid feeling that what you were seeing was not just actors on a green screen.
Every actor in this film gives it their all. Ryder and Catherine O’Hara are right at home returning as Lydia and Delia. While newcomers Ortega and Justin Theroux’s characters can feel one-note, one being rebellious and the other being manipulative, both actors bring unique energy to their characters that help make them stand out in many ways.
Willem Dafoe as Wolf Jackson, a B-list movie star turned afterlife detective. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Willem Dafoe and Monica Bellucci also do impeccable jobs playing threats to Beetlejuice’s antics. One being more comedic and satirical, while the other is more gothic and spooky. Speaking of which, over 36 years later, Keaton still has it. While his energy may not be as high as it previously was, his attitude toward each character and each scene hits the right note every time.
While this review may seem like me praising the high heavens about how great this movie is, I can admit it is not perfect.
Like I said, the film’s writing can be cliché and maybe not every joke lands for everyone. In the past, I have compared the first “Beetlejuice” to a surreal “Seinfeld,” as it is a film that is crazy and hectic yet also about nothing. While “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” has a little more story than the first film, it still follows the first film’s energy. It is not trying to be better but rather be on par with the original classic.
