Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice… spoilers a head!
I remember being curled up in a sleeping bag in front of the TV being entranced in the dark whimsy of Beetlejuice (1988). For me the movie had it all, comedy, drama, darkness mixed with childlike sensibilities. It was fun and other worldly, and it of course had Beetlejuice, a character that was free to be himself, outside of the confines of any normalcy. He was rude and so unliked even the dead had him on the outside, but he was magical to me.
The animated series continued, to a degree, the wonderful world of Tim Burton and Beetlejuice. It was zany but never as dark as the film which was a fail in some regard. So, I, like so many went to the collectibles. Anything I could find that brought back those original movie-love-feels I had to have. Even the McDonald’s toys that were based on the animated series we had to have.
Now, 36 years later, with the release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024), I sat as the lights went down around my weird & unusual self in full anticipation. I wanted to continue that original adventure but be carried away into more darkness, more weirdness, more absurdity and ugly sculptures. I have to say, as a huge fan of the original, this one, will do. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice hit on many great things about the original while adapting with the times. With the exception of Alex Baldwin (for obvious reasons) and poor Geena Davis not making a visual appearance, the movie still had the self-absurd loveability of Delia Deetz who was Catherine O’Hara perfection as only she can do. The absurdity of Charles Deetz’ death explained in animation matched with his jaws bitten body later in the movie was a perfect and just way to address/not address the actor in the movie after he too did some not so great things in real life. The stringing things together in a nice black and white bow with Beetlejuice still wanting to marry Lydia. It was all Burton gold. Granted there are several points that you give leniency to so that you can get to the juicy stuff like back in the underworld with Danny Devito (let’s be honest, he was in there for too short of a time — no pun intended). The Jenna Ortega scenes for one, the annoying con of a boyfriend to Lydia Deetz for another. But in the end, Tim Burton delivered on what we have been wanting for these 36 years… more Michael Keaton and some zany characters with an occasional dance number that seems out of place but then you start to think, maybe this is actually working. My only recommendation… it needed more Beetlejuice.
Now while the sequel ends on an open opportunity for another film, it’s unlikely that Burton will revisit it. Though, I for one, am grateful. Now excuse me while I enjoy my collectibles and rewatch the first movie. Because let’s face it, it’s a classic.
