Beetlejuice 2 | Review by: Benjamin Garrett
Beeltlegeuse…Beeltlegeuse…
I recently revisited the original for the first time since I was a kid, and enjoyed it just as much as I remember. The practical effects are a bit dated, but hold up well because they represent some of Burton’s best and most creative qualities. Going into this sequel, I was worried the it might not possess the same kind of nostalgic charm, or maybe rely too heavily on callbacks to the first movie. Instead, I was treated to a follow-up that perfectly balances the old with the new. Dare I say… I actually enjoyed it just as much as the original.
Now, it’s not perfect by any means. The first act takes some time to find its footing, as it somewhat clunkily reintroduces us to the Deetz family, over three decades since we last saw them. It’s also a little overcrowded with multiple subplots and a few too many characters, considering it’s only an hour and 44 minute long. I didn’t dislike any of the multiple plot threads the movie juggles, but a couple characters didn’t get the screen time they deserved.
Once the ball gets rolling though, I was pulled back into the Burton’s twisted mind in a way I haven’t been in years. With a legacy sequel, It can be difficult to capture the essence and spirit of the original, but this feels so in tune with everything I loved about the first. The dialogue, humour and visual gags are incredibly on brand for this franchise and these characters. The entire third act had me grinning ear to ear, complete with a show stopping scene set to music.
The returning cast members slip back into their roles like it was only yesterday. Catherine O’Hara and Michael Keaton once again steal every scene they’re in, and thankfully we get lots of Delia and Beetlejuice this time around. Winona Ryder shifts into the mother figure role, with Jenna Ortega taking over the moody teen daughter role. Also joining the cast are Monica Belucci, who is sadly underused as the film’s big bad, and Willem Dafoe, as an undead actor turned private eye. Dafoe is undoubtedly the best new character, chewing the scenery and clearly having a blast doing so.
The painstaking craftsmanship is applause worthy, in bringing this world and characters back to life (or should I say death?). So much of the movie could’ve been done with modern VFX, but instead is achieved practically, using several old fashioned filmmaking techniques. It often looks intentionally dated, preserving a lot of tone, look and personality of the original. It’s a kind of care and attention to detail that’s often absent in this day and age.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will make you want to get up and “shake, shake, shake”. Tim Burton’s legacy sequel is a ghoulish good time, that resurrects the spirit of the original in all the right ways.
3.5/5
Review by: Benjamin Garrett
