A worthwhile nostalgic jaunt back to the bizarre and wonderful world that Tim Burton first brought to life more than 35 years ago.
In classic Burton style, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is filled with his signature quirky humour, dark visuals, and importantly, a return to practical effects, which gives the film that distinct, tactile charm missing from so many modern CGI-heavy productions.
The decision to focus on practical effects is a big win for me, grounding the supernatural elements and evoking the same eerie, whimsical atmosphere of the original.
In this sequel, we find Lydia Deetz (the returning Winona Ryder), the brooding teen from the original, now a TV ghost hunter, capitalising on her ability to see the dead. Her daughter (Jenna Ortega), a new generation of goth outcast, mirrors Lydia’s teenage self, though their strained relationship gives the film some emotional weight.
When Lydia’s father dies suddenly, the whole family – complete with her oddball artist stepmother (Catherine O’Hara reprising her delightful role) and her shady TV exec boyfriend (Justin Theroux) – gathers for the funeral. This reunion becomes the perfect opportunity for our favourite bio-exorcist, Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), to re-enter the world of the living, causing complete and utter chaos.
As expected, Keaton steals every scene as the mischievously ghostly title character –
much like in the original film – but this time around, we see a lot more of him. While his 17 minutes of screentime in 1988's Beetlejuice were iconic, his increased presence here adds a much-needed energy boost at times.
Because sadly, despite a lot of positives, the movie isn’t without its flaws – with a few side plots that feel underdeveloped. Whether these were victims of the cutting room floor or just underwritten, they leave parts of the story feeling disjointed. At times, the pacing suffers as a result, making me wish the film either fleshed out these threads, or removed them entirely. A longer runtime could have provided more space to explore these elements, but as it stands, they feel like missed opportunities.
But even though Beetlejuice Beetlejuice may feel uneven at times – and lacks a deep message or profound impact – it serves its purpose as a fun, nostalgic romp, that delivers exactly what you’d expect from a Tim Burton movie.
And while this welcome return only says his name twice – there’s more than enough to build on for another potential sequel, where you could say it three times . . .
ESP Rating: 3.5/5
Mike Clarke
Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough, Out Now
Cast: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Jenny Ortega, Catherine O’hara, Justin Theroux, Monica Belluci, Burn Gorman, Willem Dafoe & Danny Devito
Running Time: 1 Hr 44 Mins
Director: Tim Burton
Go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk for all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux
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