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Movie Review: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
September 24, 2024
By Bessy ADUT
Today I am excited to write about Beetlejuice as it used to be one of my favorite childhood movies and it hits home. I have already seen it twice in the movie theaters and will probably see it again whenever I get a chance. Tim Burton is a very personal and important Film Director to me as I grew up watching ALL of his films and studied them in my later years. When it was the time that I decided to come to the United States to continue my film studies abroad, he was the reason for my school selection of CalArts as he was an Alumnus. I followed in his footsteps by going to the same film school and I met him once years ago when he was the President Jury of the Cannes Film Festival in 2010 and I had attended as press representing ̃alom.
Why is this Director and movie so special?
Even though Tim Burton could be considered a studio director at this point, we can still say that he is an “auter” director. His visual style, the way actors perform, production designs influenced by German Expressionism, the music of Danny Elfman, cast he chooses to work with repeatedly... There are many elements that make him and his films very unique, unlike any of his imitations. He is a true artist who has managed to sell out without selling out in a way.
In terms of Beetlejuice, although this is a spooky comedy at first sight, there were many plots and subplots in this movie. There were many interesting characters. I have heard friends who complained there were too many stories and characters going on at the same time, but for me it was sufficient. It felt like a spice bazaar which I don’t mind as to where I’m from. The more the merrier. I was able to follow each character and story. They connected at some point. I prefer seeing this kind of complicated yet simple storytelling rather than watching long action scenes on screen.
The genre is considered a dark fantasy comedy horror. It does carry all these elements. Yes, it is dark as we are dealing with subjects of life and death. Comedy, because including the soul train and waiting room, the afterlife is taken into consideration quite lightly. And horror because the Beetlejuice character and his baby version terrify everyone.
The soundtrack was really nice of course; fun songs and good theme songs as well as some puppetry musical performances like in the first one. Everyone asks me which one I liked better. Of course the original Beetlejuice, however, this was pretty rad for a sequel. It did not disappoint at all. I saw it twice enjoying on both accounts.
The film stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O'Hara reprising their roles alongside new cast members Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Jenna Ortega, and Willem Dafoe. Both the cast from the past and new cast all did wonderful performances and they were a good cast ensemble overall. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice opened the 81st Venice International Film Festival end of August and was released in September. Commercially it’s a success so far already grossed $329 million worldwide on a $99–100 million budget. Definitely a good watch for filmmakers and artists to see how it’s indeed possible to make money with your art without your soul being sucked out of your body.
----- Spoiler Alert from here on -----
Lydia Deetz is now a mom of a rebellious teen daughter who doesn’t believe in her psychic abilities and thinks her TV show is a fraud until she starts seeing ghosts herself. Like mother, like daughter.
3 generations of ladies come together when they lose Charles; husband of Delia, grandfather of Astrid, and father of Lydia. In the middle of the funeral, Lydia’s boyfriend proposes and asks for her hand. Lydia at a vulnerable moment of her life hesitantly says yes. They plan on getting married at the witching hour on Halloween.
Meanwhile, Lydia starts seeing Beetlejuice everywhere and is scared he is stalking her again. Beetlejuice is indeed after his crush however Delores, his ex-wife, comes back to life and haunts him for revenge. Ghost detective Wolf Jackson tries to resolve the mystery around this.
Astrid meets a young boy around her age and they hit it off. There is a short-lived romance until she finds out this is a ghost boy who killed his parents and died. He is trying to steal her life to swap places to come back to life per the book’s instructions. Astrid’s first love and disappointment let her bond with her mom get stronger. When mom realizes what’s happening, she comes to her rescue having to get together with Beetlejuice.
One of my favorite scenes in the movie was the “Soul Train” and dancing people. It was clever. I like when things are taken literally and visually. Astrid’s mom and father from life and death come to her rescue. They get together as a family for a brief happy moment.
Meanwhile, Delia, the artist stepmother, dies comedy/tragedy sort of way. She tries to make a ritual with venomous snakes who had bitten her to death. Her after-life expecting privileges scene was quite funny too but she also finds her husband there whom she misses dearly. She also has to make a deal with the devil aka Beetlejuice.
Lydia and Astrid go to the church for the wedding where Rory is waiting. Beetlejuice crashes their wedding and brings the truth about Rory into the light. He is after Lydia’s money and catches her at a vulnerable time. Then he gets into the role of the groom and the wedding ceremony begins. Delores arrives at the scene seeking her revenge.
Astrid crashes Beetlejuice’s plans when she explains the laws of the afterlife and their marriage contract is obsolete. Lydia recites Beetlejuice 3 times and sends him back to the afterlife.
In the end, there is a nice book ending where Lydia ends her show to spend her life with her most loved ones, her daughter. They go to Dracula’s castle, supposedly Astrid falls in love, gets married, and has a baby Beetlejuice! Then the movie says “Just kidding!” and it turns out to be just another nightmare of Lydia. We get the hint Beetlejuice will never really stop pursuing her as his beloved dream wife.
I recommend Beetlejuice Beetlejuice to all ages. Children and adults can enjoy it all the time. I’d say this is a great and fun family movie to watch. If you haven’t or your kids haven’t seen the original yet, I would recommend watching the first one before seeing the sequel to get most of the story and fun. However, don’t forget that 35 years have passed in between! 
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