Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: Tim Burton's goth fever dream

When the first Beetlejuice hit theaters in 1988, it propelled director Tim Burton to Hollywood’s A-list, despite being as idiosyncratic as possible. There’s been talk of a sequel for over a decade, with Burton insisting he’d only do it if Michael Keaton returned as Betelgeuse.

His wishes came true as he got Keaton, most of his original cast (except Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) and some new, valuable additions. The way the film handled morbidity and death back in the day was revolutionary. Even though the sequel doesn’t expand much on the original lore, the concept still feels fresh after all these years.

What worked

The film focuses largely on the Deetz family, especially Lydia and Delia (Winona Ryder and Catherine O'Hara), who might have been at odds in the original flick, but seemed to have buried the hatchet. Lydia, now a self-proclaimed paranormal investigator, now finds herself constantly at odds with her daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega), a skeptical, science-minded teen, struggles to accept her mother’s supernatural beliefs. It is only after the head of the family Charles Deetz (Jeffery Jones) meets an untimely death that the family gets together for the funeral.

The use of the Harry Belafonte song 'Day-O' is masterful as it is rearranged to a somber, goth vibe, fit for a funeral. Micheal Keaton steals the show with his off-the-wall performance as Betelgeuse. His comic timing and energy, despite him being almost three decades older than his first appearance, is as good as it was in the previous film.

Winona Ryder and Catherine O'Hara both deliver stellar performances as well. Willem Dafoe is a great addition to the cast, playing a former actor-turned-ghost detective, trying to keep order in his head as he juggles through his previous work. His on-screen presence, even though limited, sticks with you.

What didn’t work:

Though largely entertaining, the film did try to recreate a lot of its past situations, some of them worked while others not so much. The previous film, while surreal, stayed grounded in reality, was also very much grounded in reality. The sequel spends more time in the crazy world of the afterlife than being based in the real world. This shift pushes the film into chaotic territory, making the plot harder to follow.

One can argue that it may be intentional but ultimately, this detachment makes the story feel less engaging. The twisted love triangle between Lydia, Rory (Justin Theroux), and Betelgeuse feels forced and detracts from an already busy plot. At times, the film juggles too many plotlines, leaving newcomers to the franchise confused by its many quirks.

Verdict:

As a sequel, that too of a Tim Burton movie, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice manages to entertain while staying true to its weird and wonderful subject matter. The addition of Jenna Ortega adds a breath of fresh air and results in the unravelling of the mysteries of the afterlife. Despite having little connection to the original canon, this sequel can be enjoyed, with its quirky take on death, corpse brides, and goth gloom, regardless of whether you have viewed the original or not.