by Rosa Parra

As we continue this wave of sequels, prequels and franchise revivals/reboots, it’s time to get into the spooky season with none other than “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” Tim Burton returns to direct it with Michael Keaton returning to star as the titular character. The film also stars Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega, Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe and Monica Bellucci. This sequel to the beloved ‘80s predecessor follows Lydia (Ryder) attempting to take control of her ability to communicate with dead people while also trying to work on her estranged relationship with her daughter, Astrid (Ortega). In an unexpected series of events, she will be forced to enlist the help of the bio-exorcist, Beetlejuice.

My love for the 1988 film is so profound that it’s one of the top 3 films I’ve watched the most in my life. Naturally, I was apprehensive about how this sequel would be handled, but the trailer for “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” instantly made it my most anticipated film of 2024. It promised a delightful dose of nostalgia with a modern twist. The original film’s ability to blend genres without fully immersing itself within them is what makes it so beloved (at least to me). It’s a horror movie that doesn’t rely on all the tropes; it’s a comedy that avoids the familiar comedic tropes. It’s a Burton film that defies all the genre rules by creating its own. So, I was unsure what to expect from this sequel.

The opening is reminiscent of the original. The iconic Danny Elfman score plays over an aerial shot of Winter River. However, unlike the original where this shot showed the detailed town model, this one gives a broader sense of the landscape by shooting over the actual city with some close-ups of specific homes and locations. I was instantly transported to this world.

Story Spoilers

Then we are taken to Lydia, now the host of her TV show, “Ghost House,” which focuses on paranormal activities in haunted houses. Here, we see how Lydia struggles to live daily with her abilities and how her decision to monetize her unique abilities directly affects her bumpy relationship with Astrid. All this was great as it laid out the building blocks for what happened with Lydia after the first movie and how those events have shaped who she is today. We then learn that her father Charles has passed away (the funeral is in the trailer) and this event brings Astrid and Lydia back together (temporarily). Delia (O’Hara) is now dealing with her artistic career, and her personality hasn’t changed as Charles’s passing is handled the way you’d expect Delia to handle it. We are then taken to the underworld, where we meet Beetlejuice and a few new characters, including Delores (Belucci), Wolf Jackson (Dafoe) and Rory (Theroux).

With the various stories lines in this sequel, Perhaps too much juice was let loose.

Upon my initial reaction to the film, I stated there was something missing in this movie. The film is trying to juggle various stories, and by not prioritizing what they want to say, it fails to deliver a solid structured narrative. We have the mother and daughter relationship, the Beetlejuice and wife dynamic which explores the complexities of their relationship, the Astrid subplot, the Lydia and manager/fiancé plot, the Lydia and Delia storyline, the family dealing with the passing of Charles, and the Lydia and Beetlejuice reunion. I’m sure I’m missing a few other ones, but it was perhaps a little too much to handle. It felt like it wanted to say something, and in its attempt to do so, it said nothing substantial. Although I admit these characters are more developed compared to the first one, I believe that the simple and straightforward plot from the original is what makes it rewatchable and perhaps what led to its classic pop culture status.

The performances in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” are stellar across the board though, with O’Hara standing out. Keaton’s return is seamless, and Dafoe’s portrayal is also memorable. Bellucci’s character is a delightful nod to Sally from Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Ortega’s performance fits perfectly into this world. The production design and cinematography are all-around fantastic, and it’s a joy to see Burton’s aesthetic in new movies.

Overall, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is a decent sequel filled with nostalgic callbacks and beloved characters. However, it falls short of being an excellent film due to its convoluted narrative, which sometimes feels disjointed and overwhelming with a bumpy execution. Perhaps too much juice was let loose.

6/10