There is nothing quite like Beetlejuice — the character or the movie.
When the original Beetlejuice movie came out in 1988, audiences were treated to a macabre tale about death and love with a cast of oddball characters. Still, none were more over the top than the Beetlejuice character played by Michael Keaton.
The actor’s distinct gruff voice, slapstick humor, and gross-out gags made Beetlejuice an iconic character in the annals of movie-making history. And that says a lot for films directed by Tim Burton, who is also known for other classic morbid characters such as Edward Scissorhands, Sweeny Todd, and Jack from the Nightmare Before Christmas.
Fans of the original Beetlejuice movie were excited yet nervous about how good a sequel would be for such a beloved film.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the long-awaited sequel to the 1988 film, pays homage to what made the original so good while adding new characters and expanding on the lore and backstories of the characters that reside in the Netherworld where Beetlejuice dwells.
The new movie takes place in the same village and features many of the same actors from the original film while adding some new actors, like Jenna Ortega, who made a name for herself playing Wednesday in the Burton-directed Netflix series about the famous Addams Family character.
In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Burton remains loyal to the quirkiness of the original film, using the same old house and characters that long-time fans will appreciate.
There are some parallel storylines in the original and the sequel. Both begin with a dramatic life-altering event. In the original, a wealthy family of artists and friends moves from the city to an unusual-looking house in a small village town. In the sequel, the story begins with the funeral of Lydia Deetz’s stepfather from the original film.
Both films also center around familial relationship problems. In the original film, Lydia is a teenage outsider who doesn’t fit into the mainstream and expresses disgust with her parents. In the sequel, played by
Winona Ryder is dealing with relationship difficulties with her teenage daughter Astrid, played by Ortega. Astrid doesn’t believe in ghosts and thinks her mom is making up supernatural encounters for attention.
It’s these relationship problems and their return to the “ghost house” that initiates the return of Beetlejuice to the mortal realm in the sequel.
When Beetlejuice makes his return, Keaton’s performance dominates, just like his character does in this story. He is that charismatic friend we knew we needed. He’s the light of the first movie, and nothing changes with this one. His jokes are non-stop and never fail to tickle the funny bone.
Danny DeVito makes an appearance in the film, playing a janitor who accidentally lets Delores, the new villain of the sequel. At first, Delores is a dismembered body that then wakes and staples her body back together. This was easily my favorite scene in the movie. I just find it incredibly satisfying to watch as a viewer.
Another scene I enjoyed is when Delores sucked the soul out of the janitor, leaving him a lifeless sack of flesh. Although I did like her character, I feel like Burton could have done more with her because my eyes were blessed every time she came across the screen. Regarding her role in the plot, it felt like she was tossed aside as a reason for Beetlejuice to want to leave the Netherworld.
Willam Dafoe plays the character Wolf Jackson, who was a famous actor before he died. Dafoe is also a scene stealer because he is a phenomenal actor, even though he is not the most exciting character in the movie.
The Beetlejuice movie was filmed wonderfully. It consists of beautiful shots and scenery, and the props are fantastic, with incredible detail. The production team did a good job. I was impressed with the lighting effects, and I enjoyed the swift switches in colors in the Netherworlds areas, which are so well done. My favorite scenic location in the entire movie is the corridor scenes, which are fantastically trippy and have excellent designs. The corridor has wavy, ocean-like checkered flooring and multiple doors going down each side of it, creating odd illusions. There are also all of these crazy disturbing scenes, such as when Beetlejuice’s guts explode right out of his stomach and when Beetlejuice makes Lydia give birth to baby Beetlejuice.
While there are some problems with the plotlines not being fully developed, the Beetlejuice sequel is a fun ride that will introduce the classic Beetlejuice characters to a whole new generation.
