Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

2024, PG-12, 1h 44min

SPOILER-FREE!
Another movie I had been looking forward too (even more when realizing it’s finally one of those shy of 2h, my bladder is grateful).
The sequel to Beetlejuice 1988, featuring many of the old cast, directed by Tim Burton, I’m sold already! However, this time all what was new and exciting back then – the hilariously dark humor, the whimsical plot – is now just the base line. Therefore director Tim Burton faced a challenge to live up to his own legacy in order to meet or even surpass expectations… what’s a plus is the lack of CGI, instead we can enjoy classic animation Burton-style!

And I can tell you right away that my expectations had been met and I felt very much entertained. Beetlejuice 2 has no ambition to top the original, it’s rather filling in the details in the spirit of “what had happened to…” and draws a lot of its humor from ironic reflections on the chaotic here and now as well as “the (equally chaotic) beyond”. The rebellious Goth teen from part 1 (Winona Ryder) has become a mom of a rebellious teenager herself, anxiety-ridden, working as a ghost hunter TV show host. A family tragedy has three generations of the Deetz females return home to Winter River and the place is still haunted, but Beetlejuice is not the only challenge. A rebellious teenage daughter (Jenna Ortega) and an over-zealous boyfriend (Justin Theroux) … It’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times, to have the mischievous demon return to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

Besides the expected solid performance of the classic cast there are various guest stars who make Burton’s vision of the beyond quite entertaining. Naturally Michael Keaton delivers an excellent title anti-hero performance, but there’s a star brighter than all others: Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz, totally bonkers but still so adorable, pretty much steals all the scenes, it’s a pleasure to watch her light up the screen!

Fans of this special horror and comedy combo Tim Burton style surely cannot miss this one – but WHYYYYY the release way too early, a Halloween premiere just a few weeks later would have been perfect!! What a huge opportunity being missed!
In case you don’t know the first Beetlejuice movie – do not watch the sequel without watching part 1! Otherwise you’d miss a plethora of references and gags (the funeral had me in tears – laughing!)
My only complaint – at some point there are numerous sub-plots to juggle and I got really confused at some point and especially in the end… another reason to watch this movie multiple times. (wink wink)
Summary: Both thumbs up!

Director: Tim Burton
Script: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Seth Grahame-Smith

Cast:
Michael Keaton – Beetlejuice
Winona Ryder – Lydia Deetz
Catherine O’Hara – Delia Deetz
Jenna Ortega – Astrid Deetz
Justin Theroux – Rory
Willem Dafoe – Wolf Jackson
Monica Bellucci – Delores
Arthur Conti – Jeremy
etc