Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Movie Review: The Juice Is Loose In This Frenetic But Underwhelming Sequel [Venice 2024]

As a long-time fan of the original “Beetlejuice” movie, I must say that my expectations were both high and low for this sequel – high because I was excited to revisit the wacky world of the Afterlife, and low because I wasn’t sure if the franchise could recapture the magic it had back in the day.

The long-awaited sequel to “Beetlejuice,” titled “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” brings back the Deetz family with added drama and a new generation, portrayed by Jenna Ortega. This sequel offers an engaging story for the new Deetz character that’s distinct from Lydia’s story in the original film, and it expands on the Afterlife world significantly. However, Lydia (Winona Ryder) and Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), who are fan favorites, have less to do in this sequel, which might not break the movie but does diminish the emotional impact of having the original cast reunite because their characters aren’t as well-developed.

30 years after the initial film, our gothic queen Lydia, now a renowned psychic medium, finds herself back at her famous Winter River home following her father’s unexpected passing. Accompanied by her stepmother Delia and teenage daughter Astrid, tensions between them are strained. Unbeknownst to them, the mischievous Beetlejuice is grappling with issues of his own – a vengeful ex-wife and lingering feelings for Lydia, which soon escalate into chaos. In “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, they go to great lengths, often humorously excessive, to avoid recasting the character of Charles.

Jenna Ortega shines, while Lydia and Beetlejuice are poorly utilized

As a fan, I found that Astrid, portrayed by Jenna Ortega, offers an intriguing character development within the film. She deals with the heart-wrenching loss of her father and navigates a strained relationship with her mother, who she perceives as a fraud. Despite some similarities in personality between Astrid and Lydia, they are not identical; rather, Astrid’s storyline enhances the “Beetlejuice” universe while subtly distinguishing itself from the original film.

In simpler terms, the portrayal of Lydia in the story isn’t very impressive. As an older woman, she appears to have compromised her principles for her career, which has negatively affected her mental health and mocked her psychic abilities. It’s puzzling as to why the authors believed this depiction of Lydia would appeal to us, but it’s quite disappointing.

In essence, Beetlejuice’s role in the movie seems somewhat disappointing compared to other characters like Lydia and the Maitlands. Despite being the titular character and becoming iconic, he appears less frequently. The sequel offers more of him, but his excessive screen time dilutes his impact. A brief, mysterious presence might have been more compelling. His extensive backstory about his ex-wife, the cult leader, seems unnecessary as it doesn’t advance the plot. Less could have been more, especially for a character as flamboyant and chaotic as Beetlejuice. A scene where he dramatically emerges from the model town upon being summoned would have made a stronger re-introduction compared to his mundane job in the Afterlife (no disrespect intended to Bob, his subordinate who we both adore).

Honoring the original while also creating something new

Essentially, the writing in the sequel fails to capture the quirky allure of the initial “Beetlejuice” film. There are numerous unresolved plotlines and side stories that seem unnecessary and may have been better left untold. The production appears to be caught between respecting the original characters that made “Beetlejuice” iconic and forging a new path, mirroring a challenge often faced in creating sequels – striking a balance between reverence for past successes and innovation.

“The sequel ‘Beetlejuice’ finds itself caught in the middle, and as a result, it fails to fully satisfy fans of both the original film and newcomers. However, its portrayal of the complex bureaucracy of the afterlife could appeal to those who loved the first movie, so there’s hope that a possible future ‘Beetlejuice’ sequel might strike the right balance in its next iteration.”

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” hits theaters on September 6, 2024.

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2024-08-30 00:59