One of the most anticipated films of 2024, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, is finally in theaters. But it’s hard to follow such an important and iconic original.
Fans of the original cult classic “Beetlejuice” expressed concerns over how director Tim Burton would capture the same excitement of his first blockbuster from 1988. While “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is very flawed, it does a great job of capturing the essence of what made its predecessor so entertaining.
The casting for this long awaited sequel could not be better. With much of its original cast still intact, fans of the
original will be pleased with many of the same goofy characters. Catherine O’Hara, who returns as character Delia Deetz, is a hilarious highlight of this film. Her timing is impeccable, and she brings a much needed sense of comic relief. Winona
Ryder is excellent in her reprised role of Lydia Deetz. Ryder’s great performance helps to make her character arguably the most interesting in the entire film. Her struggle with accepting Beetlejuice and her background make for a great storyline.
Beetlejuice himself, played by Michael Keaton once again, serves a new role in this sequel. He still brings great comedy to the film, but he plays more of a protagonist role in this new movie.
While “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” brings thrills that an older audience would love, younger fans will also find great pleasure with this movie. Even if you have not seen the original, there is something for everyone.
The new additions to this cast do a fantastic job as well,with Jenna Ortega being a standout. Ortega has become a global superstar with hit shows like “Wednesday”. Astrid Deetz, her character in “Beetlejuice Beetle-
juice”, draws many similarities to the dark and moody roles Ortega usually acts in. The addition of Ortega in this film is sure to attract younger audiences into the theater.
Willem Dafoe joins the Beetlejuice series as Wolf Jackson, a wannabe police officer who attempts to catch Beetlejuice. Dafoe shines in this role, as his character adds even more great humor to the film.
Although the actors perform well in their respective roles, the plot of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” feels confusing and dis-
jointed.While allthe plotlines were intriguing, there were too many. This resulted in an ending that left no room for each story, creating an anticlimactic resolution. For example, the first half of the film portrays Monica Bellucci’s character De-
lores as the antagonist. She is out to catch Beetlejuice and make him her husband once again. But as the movie reaches its climax, she becomes an afterthought, as the storyline of Beetlejuice and Lydia takes a front seat.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” falls short when it comes to timing. The majority of screen time is dedicated to introducing new characters and building suspense. Tim Burton leaves too little an amount of time for the rising action and climax of the film.
For viewers who have never seen the original movie, there will be many references that they are unable to catch. But this film makes sure its appeal isn’t just to an older audience. There are plenty of jokes and anecdotes in the film that relate to modern culture. For example, while Delia Deetz should be grieving the loss of her husband, she opts to profit off of his death, while filming her ingenuine mourning and posting it to social media.
There are even more jokes and ongoing themes that have to do with the current internet age, as Justin Theroux’s character Rory serves as an attention seeking antagonist. Rory’s goal is to marry the wealthy but unstable Lydia Deetz, in order to gain fame and fortune. He invites various influencers to their wedding, creating a hilarious moment and solid commentary at the same time.
This movie does an excellent job of blending the great factors of its original, while also intriguing a newer generation. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” was received well by critics and audiences alike. It was a major success in the box office, staying at number one movie for two weeks in a row. This sequel is well on its way to grossing over 400 million dollars, around eight times the amount the original Beetlejuice made. Even with long awaited Marvel movies like “Deadpool vs. Wolver-
ine”, it seems like audiences are more attracted to this iconic Beetlejuice franchise. Since spooky season is right around the corner, expect to see many Beetlejuice themed costumes this year.
Overall, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is likely to keep audiences at the edge of their seat. With multiple plot twists and lovable characters, it does not matter whether the audience has watched its predecessor. The original actors are not rusty at all, as they all give incredible performances that show viewers why the first film was such a hit. Although the ending is not as exciting as hoped because the resolution was resolved far too quickly for some of the antagonists, the film does not leave everything resolved. It is not unrealistic to believe that a third film could be coming soon.
Tim Burton’s unconventional directing style serves as a great reminderthat only he can pull off a movie this absurd. With stunning performances, brilliant directing, and plenty of laughs, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is entertaining. Had the ending been a little more thought out, it would have been almost as amazing as its predecessor.
