Whenever a sequel to a beloved classic like Beetlejuice is announced, two questions immediately come to mind: “What story are they trying to tell, and does it need to be told?” Despite having one of the most creatively distinct directors in Tim Burton, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice struggles with a narrative-driven identity crisis. The film spends much of its runtime split between exploring Beetlejuice’s complex backstory, diving into a mystery thriller set in the underworld, or focusing on a teenager confronting generational family trauma. Each of these stories is interesting in its own right, but with a short runtime of just an hour and a half, none are given the space to fully develop. While the ending does attempt to tie everything together, the lack of proper setup for any one story becomes restrictive. At the film’s start, Charlie Deetz’s death brings the viewer to the reality of a fractured family. While this dynamic serves as the film’s backbone, it loses momentum when other seemingly meaningless plot lines are interjected. The original Beetlejuice succeeded because of its simple story set in a bizarre world. It’s remembered for its originality and eccentricity, not for complex exposition. A more straightforward narrative, focusing on the compelling chemistry between Lydia and Astrid Deetz, would have left a stronger impression.
When implored about the long-awaited sequel in an interview with the Associated Press, Winona Ryder remarked that “we were waiting for Jenna to be born and grow [grown] up”, and it is evident to see that Ryder was absolutely right. After her standout performance in Wednesday, it’s hard to imagine anyone else taking on this role. While we knew Jenna Ortega would fit well into the world of Beetlejuice, she truly shines in her chemistry with Ryder, who steps back into the role of Lydia Deetz after 36 years seamlessly. Their on-screen dynamic genuinely feels like a mother-daughter relationship, making their emotionally erratic decisions feel authentic and justified. Again the film would have benefited from more exploration of their characters and relationship, but that’s not to say the supporting cast didn’t deliver. Michael Keaton once again gives a disgusting yet remarkable performance as Beetlejuice, with this film allowing him to expand the character in unexpected ways. There’s more sides shown to the character without ever taking away from the core components that make him iconic.
Tim Burton has lost none of the distinctive style he delivered 36 years ago, and he proves it from the get-go, with the opening credits alone reminding audiences how much fun this bizarre world can be. Burton’s signature style and pacing ensure Beetlejuice Beetlejuice never has a dull moment, but it’s not just style for the sake of it. He blends different mediums and effects to tell the story in a creative way. While the movie is filled with nods to the original, it does an excellent job of carving out its own identity, diving deeper into Burton’s absurd universe. From an underworld dry-cleaning office to a still autumn landscape, the cinematography is consistently a visual treat. Bringing so much life to the afterlife is no easy feat, but Burton does it better than anyone.
Alongside Burton is his long-time collaborator, composer Danny Elfman. Despite releasing two months before Halloween, Elfman’s score comes in at the start of the movie and immediately makes you want to get your decorations up. His music manages to bring forth the horror aspects while still keeping the mood light and fun. The instrumentation and themes are such a staple, and it’s hard to imagine the Halloween season without his music. The Burton-Elfman duo remains one of Hollywood’s best, and hopefully, this isn’t the last time we get to see them work together.
While Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice would be a really obnoxious film to write about, it’s hard to not want more from this world and its characters. Burton gives glimpses into how vast this world is, and while that’s to a fault this time around, it opens up the door for a lot of potential in the future. Fans of the original are going to have a fun time seeing this film despite its flaws. As the summer blockbuster season winds down, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice feels like the perfect transition into fall, offering the quirky charm and dark humor that could easily become a seasonal hit for many fans.
