Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

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Isn’t it a delightful surprise when a sequel that was never asked for beats a whole bunch of frontrunners at the box office? Admittedly I’m a bit behind on my reviewing game, apologies about that, as work/life has gotten in the way, but here I am to talk about a sequel that is still making bank and has proved to be one of the most interesting and enigmatic successes: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Many years after Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) was almost married off to the zany ghost Beetlejuice, she has found herself with a successful career as a paranormal TV personality, with a manipulating fiancé, and having a daughter who doesn’t want to be around her. Even worse, recently it seems that she’s seeing Beetlejuice everywhere. When her father passes, Lydia, Delia (Catherine O’Hara), and Lydia’s daughter Astrid (Jena Ortega) find themselves back in Winter River at their old house, mourning and getting into trouble as Astrid accidentally opens a door to the Afterlife. In order to save Astrid, Lydia must, once again, ask Beetlejuice for help at the price of maybe ending up as his bride… again.

It's really interesting to think that these are probably the most successful movies that are named after a supporting character. Apparently, Michel Keaton upon signing up for the sequel requested that he only remain on screen for the same amount of time as in the first movie… which was only just over 17 minutes. While neither film is primarily about Beetlejuice, both the original and the sequel are fun and delightful explorations into how supporting characters can end up stealing the show.

Equally as zany and fun as the first movie, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is an absolute romp! It’s basically a return to the original 1988 classic, with the practical and makeup effects being a little more polished, a crisper use of Claymation, a set of fresh semi-exciting stories, and the best use of Macarthur Park since Priscilla the Musical! Not to mention the wonderful homage to Brian De Palma's Carrie at the end. Watch out for that. 

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While there is a load of predictability in the narrative and some of the character arcs, the fun of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice comes in the form of Burton’s fascination with the afterlife and how it’s probably a lot closer to home than we think. Just as in the first movie, very little about the inner workings of the Afterlife is explained, the most we get is that people get deposited to new Otherworldly destinations by way of the Soul Train… and yes, the disco joke is not lost at all! We are reminded a bit of Corpse Bride when that decrepit skeleton famously said, "why go up there when people are dying to get down here?"

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is perfect for a mindless night out at the movies. It’s easy to follow, it’s vibrant, and just a good load of fun. I would recommend it, definitely!

Director: Tim Burton, 2024

Cast: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, Jena Ortega, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, Justin Theroux, Arthur Conti, & Danny DeVito