‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’: Michael Keaton’s Ghoulish Return Is a Twisted Delight [CNET]

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice returns audiences to the world Tim Burton introduced three and a half decades ago. The sequel brings the Deetzes back to their hometown of Winter River to deal with a family tragedy. The ghosts of their past catch up with them, forcing the Deetz family to finally come together and deal with their collective trauma to move forward once and for all.

It’s not easy, though. Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), the trickster poltergeist who’s tormented them years ago, returns to wreak more havoc. But this time, he’s not just trying to solidify his relationship with Lydia (Winona Ryder); he’s running from a past threat, raising the story stakes further. The result is a legacy sequel paying homage to the 1988 original while pushing things into uncharted territory. 

A Beetlejuice sequel has been in the works for years. After the original movie succeeded at the box office, a second installment was pushed into development. And while there was a bevy of rewrites, with Betelgeuse going everywhere from Hawaii to the Wild West, nothing stuck. 

For decades, rumors have swirled about a potential return to the Beetlejuice world. Thanks to the efforts of Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment, a script by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar and Seth Grahame-Greene, and the return of the movie’s core cast, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has finally been resurrected.

Before I continue, please take heed of this spoiler warning. If you have yet to see Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and want to avoid story details from the new movie, turn back now.

Read more: Michael Keaton reveals the best Batman movie to Jimmy Kimmel

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a homecoming of sorts for Burton. The supernatural comedy was the director’s second full-length feature, hitting the big screen a few years after his first made waves with Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure. Burton and his cast were playing in a proverbial sandbox, playing make believe and coming up with unique ideas on the spot, which helped meld character and story into a game-changing movie that solidified Burton’s spot as a director to watch. 

A collection of misfires has populated Burton’s IMDB page over the past decade, leading many to think the director may have lost his spooky mojo. Netflix’s Wednesday gave fans a glimmer of the Tim Burton of the ’80s and ’90s. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice marks the director’s return to form. He’s back in the Gothic comedy niche he helped carve, and it looks like he’s having a blast.

Burton’s highly anticipated sequel is fortified by a slew of fun, practical effects that reflect the tactile nature of the man’s better works. Laugh-out-loud quips keep the movie on its toes. References to Frankenstein, Soul Train, Mario Bava and the Bee-Gees (among many others) maintain the tongue-in-cheek vibe, regularly reminding audiences that this is a ride to have fun on. Leave your seriousness at the door.

A Beetlejuice sequel obviously would only work with Keaton. The Oscar-nominated actor easily returns to his “ghost with the most” persona. Pivoting away from the manufactured aura of the many Beetlejuice-inspired items — the animated series, the Broadway musical and all that merch — Keaton organically takes Betelgeuse back to the nuts and bolts of what made the character so impactful to begin with. He’s aged, has some welcome wear and tear, and feels more grounded.

The Afterlife has a more significant role in the sequel, giving us deeper insight into Betelgeuse’s netherworld existence. Thanks to some backstory, we see Betelgeuse before his demise and are introduced to his soul-sucking wife, Dolores (Monica Bellucci). She wants his love, but Betelgeuse has his eyes on Lydia — still — setting the stage for an odd love triangle to play out.

Bellucci’s addition to the cast represents a handful of new memorable characters featured in this go-round. Justin Theroux’s Rory and Willem Dafoe’s Wolf Jackson add welcome levity to the film. Here’s hoping this isn’t the last we see of Dafoe’s actor-turned-Afterlife cop — he’s a real scene-stealer, here.

Catherine O’Hara once again injects Delia Deetz with an unhinged, self-centered panache. The dynamic between Delia and Lydia has settled over time, leaving Lydia to face a similar struggle with her tortured teen daughter, Astrid. 

Jenna Ortega’s performance as Astrid is the glue that holds the whole thing together. She’s the emotional entry point for the audience. As Lydia’s childhood trauma resurfaces, and as both mother and daughter struggle to reconcile a shared loss, Astrid’s skeptical nature keeps things grounded. 

You’re probably asking yourself — does Beetlejuice even need a sequel? Honestly, no. You can call it fan service or nostalgia bait. Both are valid criticisms. They’re also complimentary attributes.

The chemistry between the cast, the onslaught of visual gags, Tim Burton’s signature world-building and the steady stream of horror humor puts Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in the winner’s circle. It’s a welcome dose of campy fun when all is said and done. And sometimes that’s all we need.

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