Long-gestating sequels have been a mixed bag in recent years. Blade Runner 2049 and Bill & Ted Face the Music were both met favorably, but Ghostbusters: Afterlife, The Matrix Resurrections and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny all received luke-warm receptions. It’s been 36 years since the “ghost with the most” first hit screens, and nary a year has gone by since without some sort of rumor that director Tim Burton and star Michael Keaton would be returning for more. When it was finally announced that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was going into production, the question of “Will they make it?” shifted to, “Will it be any good?” I’m happy to report that the answer to the latter is a resounding ‘yes.’
As soon as Danny Elfman’s iconic Beetlejuice score began to play over the opening credits of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, I knew any doubts that the long awaited sequel would not live up to expectations were completely unwarranted. Burton and writers Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Seth Grahame-Smith have crafted a nearly perfect sequel that pays homage to the original, while at the same time expanding on the existing universe and creating a unique story unto itself.
The film has Lydia (Winona Ryder) returning to her childhood home in Winter River, along with her nearly estranged daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega) and her mother Delia (Catherine O’Hara) after the death of her father (played in the first film by Jeffrey Jones- I won’t get into why he didn’t return for the film here, but you can look it up). Still haunted by the memories of Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), Lydia’s life is turned upside down when Astrid discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. And brewing underneath it all is Beetlejuice, who is still trying to finagle his way into the world of the living while trying to escape his past.
One of Keaton’s caveats for returning to the Beetlejuice role was that he had the same amount of screen time as he did in the first film, which was a very short 17 minutes (after all, Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis were the actual stars of the film). Keaton’s time in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is again limited, though it’s given significantly more weight, as one of the film’s subplots revolves around Beetlejuice. In fact, while the original focused primarily on Baldwin and Davis’s Adam and Barabard Maitland and their run ins with the Deetz family, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has a series of well-balanced subplots, including O’Hara’s coping with the death of her beloved husband, Lydia’s relationship with her sleazy boyfriend, Rory (Justin Theroux), and a budding romance for Astrid.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is more polished than the first film, which likely has everything to do with Burton’s growth as a filmmaker over nearly four decades. However a lot of the charm of the first Beetlejuice was that it was a bit rough around the edges. Burton also took a lot of big creative swings the first time around, which played a big part in the film’s now classic status, but he plays it a bit safer here. We do see a lot more of the afterlife world, but there is nothing that expands beyond the cleverness of the first film. But I suppose that’s a risk you take when making a sequel to a film as unique as Beetlejuice.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice isn’t perfect. As previously stated, it’s not quite as hard hitting as its predecessor, and it’s tacked-on ending, while entertaining, doesn’t have nearly the charm that the ending of the first film had. But it does benefit from some great casting choices, including Willem Dafoe as ex-B movie star and current ghost detective, Wolf Jackson, and a great cameo from another one of Burton’s favorite actors.
As far as sequels go, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice gives you everything that you want. It’s fun, witty, silly and gross, while at the same time carrying some emotional weight, which is exactly what I was hoping for. Burton has stated that he has no plans for a third film in the franchise. If that’s the case, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is in fact the end of the road, then they definitely went out on top.
Quick Scan
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ is a fun, silly and gross sequel that pays homage to the original, expands on the existing universe, and creates a unique story unto itself.