The Plot: After her close encounter with sleazy bio-exorcist Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), Lydia (Winona Ryder) is now a paranormal expert on a tacky TV show. Her morbid teenage daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega) has little time for her, especially since her father is no longer around and new step-father Rory (Justin Theroux) has stepped in. Another death in the family prompts the return of Lydia and Delia (Catherine O’Hara) to Winter River. Between life, death and the afterlife they discover that they may reluctantly need the help of the resurrected Beetlejuice after all…
The Verdict: 1988’s Beetlejuice was something of a gamble for all concerned, with even Alec Baldwin stating that it might be the end of everyone’s careers. Far from it – it turned out to not only be a cult hit but it also put Tim Burton on the filmmaking map along with quirky character actor Michael Keaton. It was only Burton’s second feature film, but it already proved ripe territory for what was to come: the dynamic duo re-teamed the following year for Batman. Potential sequels were fast-tracked, but the scripts couldn’t quite hit the nail in the proverbial head. Beetlejuice In Love or Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian anyone? Maybe just as well, so Burton and Keaton left Beetlejuice resting in his neon-marked grave until the right time came to let him loose on the world once more. That time is now – some 36 years later, but better late than never.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice really needed a reason to exist in order for both Burton and Keaton to get onboard with it, without retreading too much of the material covered in the original film. They have mostly found a way to justifiably bring Beetlejuice back, while expanding on the mad world of the afterlife, shot through in the way that only Burton can do. The script by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar and Seth Grahame-Smith catches up with the human characters further down the road, all at points where they’re not exactly happy. Lydia is an embarrassment to her daughter Astrid, who rejects the notion of an afterlife while Delia has to deal with her own challenges between life and death. Beetlejuice himself hasn’t changed that much – still as amusingly obnoxious as before but now stuck with a dull desk job and hunted by former flame Delores (Monica Bellucci), who has several gnawed bones to pick with him.
Unlike some unnecessary sequels churned out long after the original, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice does earn its place beside its predecessor. It has that same off-kilter approach towards its returning characters and their life/death situations while playing around with new characters like the morbid Astrid and actor-playing-movie-cop Wolf (a game Willem Dafoe). Burton keeps the madcap energy going through some wonderfully daffy afterlife scenes including more than one dance sequence. A lot of that screen energy comes through Keaton, who slips back into the role like a glove and this comfort with the character allows him to channel his pitch-perfect comic timing. The handmade feel of the film also comes through with a nostalgic tone, complete with stop-motion animation and puppets so that it doesn’t look too visually out of sync with its predecessor. It’s a visual treat of a film, loaded with references including a direct nod to Mario Bava’s early, atmospheric Italian horrors like Black Sunday.
That said though, there are some questionable decisions made later in the film which don’t entirely convince. Monica Bellucci does fantastic work as the stapled-together corpse Delores – a Morticia Adams on steroids that recalls Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas. After building her up for a big confrontation with Beetlejuice, Burton then abandons that idea and short-changes Bellucci in the process. A shame. Considering how smart and tuned-in Astrid is, she makes some uncharacteristic choices that could cost her dearly. It just seems like Burton wasn’t paying attention in the last act and was distracted by fitting in as many sight gags as possible to keep everyone happy. The rough edges of the original have been sandpapered a bit, so it’s a little too polished and lacking the really manic energy that came before (no Beetlejuice eating flies this time). There’s still much to enjoy with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, from the animated/re-animated performances, it’s showtime approach to song and dance sequences and the colourful insight into the afterlife. One would have hoped though that it would be a little less reverential and safe and really go for the jugular.
Rating: 3 / 5
Review by Gareth O’Connor
In short: It's showtime!
Directed by Tim Burton.
Starring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega, Catherine O'Hara, Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci.