‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice‘ the underdeveloped story that would have been better suited for a limited series comes to theaters on Friday, September 6, 2024.
Warner Bros. takes a page from the tired sequel playbook with ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,’ a film that feels like an overripe fruit—underdeveloped and underwhelming. What might have been better suited as a limited series is instead stretched thin into a feature film, leaving audiences longing for something more substantial.
On paper, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice‘ ticked all the right boxes: Michael Keaton returns as the Ghost with the Most, Winona Ryder as Lydia, the beloved goth girl all grown up, Catherine O’Hara as the quintessentially wacky stepmother Delia, and Jenna Ortega as Astrid, the latest goth it girl. Tim Burton, the master of modern macabre, is back at the helm. It should have been a triumphant return.
However, instead of soaring to the heights of ‘Top Gun Maverick‘ or ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,’ this sequel lands closer to the misfire of ‘Coming 2 America.’ The first 90 minutes drag, burdened with exposition and character development that barely scratches the surface. The audience’s main desire quickly becomes for Rory (Justin Theroux) to be devoured by a sandworm, just to end the tedium of a 1980s subpar villian.
The real downfall of ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,’ lies in its lackluster subplots. Beetlejuice’s ex-wife, Delores—played by the underutilized Monica Bellucci—seems to have only been cast to show what a live action version of Sally from ‘A Nightmare Before Christmas‘ than a fully fleshed-out character seeking revenge. Meanwhile, Astrid’s love interest, Jeremy (Arthur Conti), who turns out to be a ghost with a murky past, adds little depth. These threads, if given the time and space of a limited series, could have been intriguing, but instead, they become filler that makes the film feel bloated.
Despite its narrative shortcomings, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice‘ is visually incredible, like all of Bruton’s previous works. Keaton is a welcome sight in his iconic role, Ryder and O’Hara deliver familiar performances that fans will appreciate, and Ortega’s portrayal is yet another spin on her Wednesday Addams persona. ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,’ attempts to cash in on Gen X nostalgia with mixed results, delivering moments that are quip-worthy but not necessarily memorable.
In the grand scheme of the 2020s reboot, requel and sequel landscape, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice‘ is a mildly entertaining, forgettable romp, peppered with a few decent moments and nostalgic cameos.
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice‘ squeezes into theaters on Friday, September 6, 2024.
Summary
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice‘ is the definition of “you get what you paid for.” It is a delightfully forgettable sequel where Michael Keaton slips back into his iconic black-and-white stripes and Catherine O’Hara steals the show with her razor-sharp one-liners. It’s a fun ride that might just land it in the top 5 at the box office.
