The year is 1988 and the world is gifted with what will soon be a cult classic by the name of Beetlejuice. Director Tim Burton gave us a unique comedy about the spirits of a deceased couple who hire a malicious spirit to drive out a family that has moved into their home. Thirty-six years later, he has given us a sequel that has been highly anticipated since rumors began swirling on social media.
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice sees Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara reprising their iconic roles, with some new faces added to the chaos. Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, Monica Belluci, and Arthur Conti join a star-studded cast as the Deetz family returns to Winter River. This time around, Lydia (Ryder) finds herself in an interesting situation when her daughter, Astrid (Ortega), accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife. She must call on someone for help, ultimately leading her to the one person she has desperately tried to leave in her past: Beetlejuice (Keaton).
It’s rare that a sequel comes along and makes you question whether or not it’s better than the original (let’s face it: Top Gun: Maverick blows the OG flick out of the water), and that’s exactly what Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice does. It’s an absolute thrill ride from start to finish, with a plot that simply works and manages to perfectly tie into the previous film. Oftentimes, a sequel or reboot can feel forced or seen as a cash grab to tap into the nostalgia that drives a fan base. Burton continues to prove he is a creative genius as he strays far away from this and did the original justice by cultivating a fresh idea with a purpose.
Keaton steps into the black and white pinstripe suit like a natural; you’d never know it’s been almost four decades since he donned it last. He delivers joke after joke and every single one of them lands, leading to genuine laughs rather than studio audience chuckles. It’s clear he has a level of trust and comfort linking back up with Burton after so many years and films they’ve worked on together (the duo now has two pairs of sequels, the Batman series, now this). Keaton is arguably at his absolute best, delivering a performance that is sure to label Beetlejuice as his greatest role.
While it was a real treat for Ryder to return as Lydia, she is not a standout this time around. She doesn’t contribute much, but in all fairness, a follow-up to the original would not have made much sense without her return. Same can be said about Belluci and Theroux, as the film could have been just fine without their characters, Delores and Rory. One storyline that is rather unnecessary and served as more of a distraction is Delores (Belluci), oftentimes leaving a feeling of, “Okay, hurry up and get back to the good stuff.” While Belluci is stunning and gives an entertaining performance as a sexy villain and Theroux garners some laughs as the greedy boyfriend, nothing would have been missing if their scenes were cut.
Besides Keaton, the two that added the most to Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice were Ortega and O’Hara. Out of all the punchlines and scenes worth laughing out loud to, more than half can be credited to O’Hara and her comedic timing. When you think of this film being a comedy, she is a massive element of that, and it’s an utter joy to see her back as Delia Deetz. When fan castings take place on social media, Ortega is almost always typecast in projects that are reminiscent of Wednesday. The 21-year-old is regarded as one of the young actresses to look out for. So when she was added to this sequel, it all made absolutely sense as this is definitely the genre she dominates in. In an interview Black Girl Nerds, Burton called Ortega the anchor to the sequel, saying, “It’s actually a story about her.” Burton went on to say that there was a lot of improv on set, and every bit of it worked.
Overall, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice is what a sequel looks like when the director truly cares about his craft and does everything he can to make it just as beloved as the first. The musical number in the final act is a blast, with Burton’s taste in tunes on full display. It’s a masterpiece thirty-six years in the making that is definitely worth the wait. It could have definitely been a solid release for October to capitalize on the Halloween feels, but it’s quite possible this may already be on streaming platforms by then (sad, but true). Fans of the original will not be disappointed, as it’s clear Burton had their best interests in mind when cultivating this film. While it’s too soon to hope for a third installment, Burton did tease that the studios have already been discussing it (it’s only right they title it Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice). After leaving the theater, you’re sure to crave a follow up as well.
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice hits theaters September 6, 2024.