As a long-time fan who grew up with the original “Beetlejuice” and can still recall the thrill of watching it during my teenage goth phase, I must say that the sequel was a rollercoaster ride of nostalgia and reality checks. The film captures Tim Burton’s signature style and wit perfectly, but the weight of life experiences seems to have taken a toll on its storytelling.
Title Sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 cult classic “Beetlejuice,” the long-awaited follow-up has generated one recurring query: can it replicate the singularly bizarre enchantment of its predecessor? The response isn’t straightforward, but a blend of revived whimsy and profound real-world issues that make death seem less appealing.
The plot of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” continues in the present day, 36 years after the initial movie’s storyline. Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder), who once had psychic abilities, has now turned her gifts into a successful reality TV career. However, this newfound fame has strained her marriage and relationship with her daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega). The Deetz family experiences numerous misfortunes, including the presence of Death itself and Lydia’s personal supernatural tormentor, culminating in a funeral that brings Lydia, Astrid, and Delia Deetz (Catherine O’Hara) back together.
Upon their return to Winter River for a funeral, the Deetz family inadvertently awakens spectral activities once more. As Astrid gets entangled in the realm of the departed, Lydia is compelled to contact Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton), someone she’s avoided for years. However, Betelgeuse, known as “The Ghost with the Most,” has his own setbacks: a vengeful ex-spouse (Monica Bellucci) who’s after him, and a shrewd ghost investigator (Willem Dafoe) on his case.
The classic movie “Beetlejuice” has stood the test of time remarkably well due to its unique nature. Its blend of themes like adolescent turmoil, eerie afterlife depictions, romance, and a wildly eccentric villain was uniquely crafted by Tim Burton, but both he and times have evolved since then. This is the challenge faced by “Beetlejuice Sequel”: it showcases Burton reconnecting with his roots in filmmaking, yet that youthful creativity gets tangled up in the complexities and worries of a more mature artist.
Regarding its production, “Beetlejuice 2” demonstrates Tim Burton skillfully revisiting his classic style while also showcasing fresh filmmaking abilities he’s developed over time. It’s also accurate to say that neither Burton nor Michael Keaton have missed a beat: Keaton’s portrayal of Betelgeuse shines in the sequel, though some viewers might overlook the fact that Keaton had less screen time in the first movie – a similar observation applies to this sequel. Similarly, Burton’s depiction of the afterlife and its mythology remains captivating.
In the process of blending the narratives of Astrid, Lydia, and Delia Deetz, screenwriters Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (with an initial story by Seth Grahame-Smith) encounter difficulties. The movie “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” struggles to balance the character arcs for all three generations of Deetz women, leading it to appear overly complicated and excessively lengthy. It’s evident that Burton has a stronger emotional attachment to Delia and the themes revolving around aging, loss, and maintaining artistic relevance amidst changing times. Winona Ryder’s portrayal of an older Lydia encapsulates the angst and emotional upheaval of a former Gen X goth transformed into a modern parent, while Jenna Ortega’s Astrid appears more like a plot device than a fully developed character, offering limited depth compared to her eccentric and dynamic portrayal in their Netflix series “Wednesday” (an Addams Family spinoff). Fans expecting more of Ortega’s quirky or vibrant side may be left feeling underwhelmed by the subdued nature of her character.
In a somewhat exaggerated and plump portrayal, Beetlejuice (Beetlejuice) lends a flair to the larger ensemble of characters. Willem Dafoe’s Wolf Jackson, in particular, proves to be a delightful inclusion, given Dafoe’s knack for stealing scenes. However, the characters Rory, played by Justin Theroux (The Leftovers), and Delores, portrayed by Monica Bellucci (The Matrix Reloaded), appear forced into the narrative to generate unwanted romantic tension. Viewers may have differing opinions on how director Tim Burton handled the absence of Jeffrey Jones (Charles Deetz), but the storyline had to adapt without him, given the film’s premise.
It will be interesting to see how Beetlejuice Beetlejuice lands with viewers who never watched or appreciated the original – if it will be a fun, demented ride that sends them back to the original film. For the fans who have been waiting decades for a Beetlejuice sequel to happen, that original demented fun is still there to be found – but notions of death lose their goth-romantic shine as we get older, and it is impossible to ignore the mess it leaves behind for the living to deal with. Burton can’t quite reconcile those two conflicting notions but thanks to genuine efforts from Keaton and the rest of the cast, he can still make us laugh at death, just a little.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is now playing in theaters.
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2024-09-06 18:41