By Anthony Caruso
"The juice is loose!"
Given how successful the original "Beetlejuice" was, how much of a following it's garnered over the past three decades, and what a Halloween staple the film and the titular character have become, it's incredible to me that it's taken thirty-six years for a sequel to be made! But, we live in incredible times. Now here we are in the year 2024 and Tim Burton, Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O'Hara have finally all returned for the first official follow-up to the beloved 1988 film. As an enormous fan of the original, my expectations for this movie couldn't have been higher, and I'm extraordinarily happy to report that not only were they met, they were exceeded. "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" was absolutely worth the wait! It's not only a worthy successor to the original film, but it's an amazingly fun film in its own right!
Let me get my one nitpick with this movie out of the way first: it is a busy movie. There is a lot going on here. There are so many subplots that it feels simultaneously overstuffed and undercooked. Given its under two-hour runtime, it's to be expected that not every subplot would feel properly serviced or needed. Indeed, given how fast this film flew by, I wish it had been longer so that every thread introduced here was given the attention it deserved. That said, all of these seemingly disparate threads coalesce beautifully into such a wonderful third-act finale that’s exciting, side-splittingly funny, and incredibly zany that I imagine many, like myself, will walk out of the film extremely forgiving of how stuffed it is.
It's clear that Tim Burton loved making this movie. It's the most Burton movie we've received from the unique filmmaker in years, and his dark humor and morbid sensibilities are on full display here, as is his abundance of creativity. Part of what makes this movie so great, and what makes it feel like such a natural follow-up to the original, is that the majority of effects, sets (which look as though they've been painstakingly recreated), and costumes are done practically when possible. This feels like a movie ripped right out of the eighties, and it's all the better for it! Burton also stayed true to the original film in terms of crafting this story. Picking up in real-time, every original character is exactly where you would expect them to be nearly forty years later. Even Adam and Barbara Maitland, who were so essential to the original movie but are missing here, are referenced and we're given an explanation as to what happened to the lovable ghosts. And, despite Jeffrey Jones not as Charles Deetz due to the actor's personal legal issues, the character is still essential to the plot, and his presence is felt throughout. Of course, the fact that Danny Elfman returns to score the film helps make it feel like a natural extension of the first movie as well. In fact, the man does something I didn't think possible, he makes the iconic "Beetlejuice" theme somehow more epic! The whole score, and the accompanying soundtrack, is a banger though, and it's one I'll be listening to on repeat for a while. The movie does for Richard Harris' "MacArthur Park" what "Beetlejuice" did for Harry Belafonte's "Banana Boat (Day-O)" in one of its best sequences!
Michael Keaton once again dons the black-and-white pinstriped suit as Betelgeuse, the lecherous demon, and he slips right back into the role without missing a beat. He's as disgusting, slick, and fast-talking as ever, and he has even more tricks up his sleeves this time. While some may say it's Batman, I have always argued that Betelgeuse is Keaton's definitive role, and this movie goes a long way to proving my point. The man was born to play the trickster demon, whose backstory we delve into here. And that story is appropriately gruesome. Going into the movie, I was afraid that Burton was going to make the demon more of an antihero this time around, but that's not the case. He's still, without a doubt, a bad guy, even if he can be manipulated into helping the cause of good. That goes a long way toward keeping him so fun and exciting to watch. In addition, Burton shows an incredible amount of self-restraint with the character. Given his enduring popularity, it would have been easy to have him in every scene of this film. But he's used as sparingly here as in the original, which makes him more effective whenever he does pop up. Like "Beetlejuice", "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" left me wanting more of the demon himself, which is the biggest compliment I can give the film.
Keaton's not the only returning cast member though! Winona Ryder is back as Lydia Deetz, who is still living with ample amounts of trauma following her encounter with Betelgeuse as a teenager. She's channeled that trauma into hosting a hit paranormal talk show, while also becoming a highly over-protective parent. Ryder is fantastic, and she gets far more to do with Keaton this time around. Suffice it to say, their repartee is easily the best part of the movie. It's Catherine O'Hara's Delia Deetz who very nearly steals the show though. O'Hara is a comedic treasure, and she absolutely chews the scenery throughout the film’s brisk runtime. It's wonderful we get so much of her this time around, including in the bureaucratic afterlife! I felt it impossible to tear my eyes from her whenever she was on screen, even when she was sharing it with Keaton's over-the-top demon. In the intervening years since the original movie, Delia has made a fortune via her weird, modernist art, and it's only made her more insufferable, which is a boon for audiences watching the movie! I will say, the relationship between Delia and Lydia is one of the most unexpected aspects of this film, and also one of the most heartwarming; the two have come a long way with their relationship since 1988!
The returning cast is joined by Jenna Ortega, who is perfectly cast as Lydia's daughter, Astrid. Justin Theroux plays Lydia's entertainment manager and love interest, Rory, who is just as slimy (in his own way) as the demon that's stalking her. And Willem Dafoe plays the dead B-List actor who’s become a detective in the afterlife, Wolf Jackson. Dafoe's character in particular is so damn fun, and feels inspired by the beloved Beetlejuice cartoon in particular. So does the final new character, Monica Bellucci's soul-sucking witch, Delores, who in life was Betelgeuse's wife. Bellucci has such a presence here! She’s gorgeous with her pale skin, black dress, and stapled body parts, which pull themselves together in a wonderful sequence set to The Bee Gees' "Tragedy", while her powers are demonstrated in a truly intimidating way. Unfortunately, it's her character who gets the short end of the stick in the movie. Indeed, her character and entire subplot could have been lifted out of here completely and the movie would barely have changed. I do wonder whether Burton should have done that and saved her to be the main focus of a potential third movie. Nevertheless, she's memorable with the little she is given to do here. And though he gets no dialogue, and I'm unsure of who plays him, I must shout out the character of Bob, one of Betelgeuse's shrunken-head employees who is sure to become a fan-favorite given his oddly adorable, silent demeanor, and his bigger-than-expected supporting role.
Is "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" as perfect as the iconic original? No, but it nearly is. I would rank it a smidge beneath that film, but only just. Regardless, I cannot wait to watch the two back-to-back for many years to come in what's sure to be a wonderfully fun double-feature. "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" is not just a legacy sequel done right, but one of the best legacy sequels in years. It leans hard into nostalgia and engages in just the right amount of fan service without overdoing it. At the same time, it carves out its own identity and is a wonderful stand-alone movie on its own. And though a sequel to the original movie, it pays a lot of respect to the animated cartoon and Broadway show as well, which fans of the entire franchise are sure to enjoy! Don't walk, but rush to see this film on the biggest screen possible. I guarantee you that there is no better way to kick off Spooky Season this year. I, for one, look forward to seeing it on the big screen at least one more time before we're able to summon it at home whenever we want by speaking the title aloud three times.