Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (dir. Tim Burton)
By: Adam Freed
Rejoice in thy youth, as it delightfully returns in the form of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. As the dwindling days of summer make way for autumn, there may be no better way for pumpkin spice loving audiences to celebrate the onset of “Spooky Season” than with Tim Burton’s joyous return to directorial form. Releasing a mind-boggling 36 years after Beetlejuice (1988), Michael Keaton’s ghoulish title figure has lost nothing on his comedic fastball. Although it is Keaton (Batman, Spotlight) who earns top billing in the long awaited sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice works because Burton (Edward Scissorhands, Big Fish) once again leans into the ensemble nature for his gothic comedy. Keaton is joined once again by the magnetic Winona Ryder (The Crucible, Stranger Things) and Catherine O’Hara (Home Alone, Schitt’s Creek). O’Hara and Ryder once again assume the roles of Delia and Lydia Deetz, a step-mother and daughter duo whose love / loathe dynamic is the stuff of comedy gold.
What strikes most successfully in Burton’s comedy horror sequel is how faithfully the director is able to emulate the playful gothic tone he mastered in the late 80’s. For those purchasing tickets in search of Academy Award fodder, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is likely to disappoint, as prestigious acclaim is not Burton’s aim with the irreverent franchise. Best served will be audiences in search of an evening overflowing with delightful ghoulish mayhem, packed to the gills with elite comedic performers. Joining the already gifted cast is Jenna Ortega (Scream, Wednesday) who plays Astrid Deetz, Lydia’s cynical and estranged daughter. Beetlejuice (1988) leaned into a plot balancing the lives (and afterlives) of two families at odds with the titular ghoul. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice pivots slightly by successfully sinking its fangs into three generations of the Deetz family, sure to speak to both fans of the original, as well as invite younger audiences along for the ride. There is no secret that the success of Tim Burton’s Netflix series Wednesday (2022) prompted the casting of Jenna Ortega as the Gen Z conduit to curious new audiences. This addition proves to be a wise choice as even the most steadfast of Beetlejuice purists will admit that Ortega breathes a necessary youthful air into the film once filled by Winona Ryder’s Lydia.
Despite the undeniable nostalgic fun brought about by Burton’s reboot, it isn’t a production without flaws. Most prominent amongst the film’s minor blemishes is a curious and debatably successful pair of antagonists, who provide an interesting backstory to the film’s namesake, but run outside of the realm of necessity. While it universally benefits a production to include the incomparable Willem Dafoe (Poor Things, Platoon), his role as a deceased television detective turned afterlife sleuth Wolf Jackson, plays warmly for laughs, but adds little to the success of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Nostalgia seeking forty and fifty-somethings are unlikely to resist the temptation to once again steal a bite from youth’s apple. Thankfully, with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice the resurgent Tim Burton and his delightfully menacing cast of 20th century icons provide this rare opportunity with enjoyable panache.
Target Score: 7.5/10 The fact that it took Tim Burton and his gang of gothic ghouls 36 years to produce a sequel to Beetlejuice feels of little consequence now that the end result proves to be such a success. Fans of the 1988 Michael Keaton vehicle are sure to feel seen by Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a clever, funny and soulful trip down memory lane.