By Jack Ransom September 4, 2024
'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' was an inevitability in the lega-sequel/nostalgia driven world of blockbuster filmmaking ('Blade Runner 2049', 'Scream VI', 'Top Gun: Maverick', 'Dial of Destiny', 'Jurassic World: Dominion'…) and it is pretty much exactly what I expected, a breezy, silly, extremely-Burton, ghost train ride that will certainly please an audience… but it undeniably suffers from sequelitis and underdeveloped plot threads.
Synopsis
After a family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), Lydia's (Winona Ryder) life is turned upside down when her teenage daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife.
Review
'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' makes it almost feels like the screenplay was a mismatch of different ideas that never fully fleshed out outside of a couple of elements. The strongest core of the film is the Deetz family, in particular Lydia’s coping with visions of the afterlife and how her trauma and ‘gift’ has caused a rift between she and her daughter (Ortega). Astrid’s cynicism and grief surrounding her father (as well as her justified contempt towards her mother’s manager/new lover) also bring a fresh grounded nature to the quirkiness. It’s just a shame that the other plot threads never feel as developed, especially when it comes to Betelgeuse’s soul sucking ex-wife (Monica Bellucci), who honestly could have been cut out of the film entirely.
The exploration, world-building and presentation of the afterlife is still bubbling with rotting personality and seemingly limitless potential. We delve further into the various departments that keep everything in check on the other side: from its own law enforcement department (led by a brilliant Willem Dafoe as an ex-blockbuster star who died in a stunt gone wrong), the Soul Train (where you boogie down to the Great Beyond) and Immigration (helping your journey either back up… or down to the fiery below) and the sand worm desert (no not Arrakis).
The spirit of the original film shines through in the visuals, props, costumes and practical effects. Your eyes will be darting all over the place in the afterlife, picking up on all the various grisly and bizarro details which led to various inhabitants demises. Stop-motion, puppets, animatronics all populate the film (as well as bursts of fittingly quirky CGI implementations) in gloriously creative fashion. Those worrying that the film may have been toned down from the original fear not! There are some spectacular gross-out screwball and slapstick moments (including a genuinely wild pre-ending scene) and retro/classic horror aficionados will rejoice at one particular flashback which taps into black and white/Universal Monsters glory.
The cast line-up is great, and returning players Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara all are clearly happy to be back and slip right back into these roles after 30 years later! Jenna Ortega brings a quirky, adolescent snark and wit to Astrid, and even though I haven’t watched the show, I have no doubt of the 'Wednesday' influence on her character. Willem Dafoe is having a blast as the ‘always in character’ hard boiled lead police chief of the afterlife. Unfortunately, Monica Bellucci does feel a bit tagged on here, but her ghostly, glamorous grandeur is palpable (also great intro scene) and lastly, Justin Theroux’s petty, greedy and scroungingly scandalous Rory is a great addition. Also everyone involved in that wedding song and dance sequence was an absolute joy.
'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' is a ghoulishly fun love letter to the first film, but is simultaneously slightly hindered by the iconic originality of its predecessor. The world building, spectacular practical effects, squelchy and splattery imagery and fun set pieces, as well as a top cast help overshadow some of the weaker plot threads and re-treaded story beats.
Star Rating
'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' releases in cinemas September 6
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