'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' review: Consistently charming, engaging rollercoaster ride
No matter the genre, sequels are always a risky wager. They must usher a wave of nostalgia, flesh out central characters, and satisfactorily justify new ones. So, Tim Burton's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, returning 36 long years after the original, faces these challenges too. The good news? It largely triumphs over them, ensuring a rollicking, spirited ride which is twice the fun this time.
This is what happens in the horror-comedy
BB follows Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder), a psychic medium. Her life crumbles when she starts seeing Betelgeuse frequently, the demon who pined for her in the first part. He's hell-bent on marrying her, but is being chased by his ex-wife's ghost, while Lydia's daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega) is thrown into the mix too! Amid such chaos, who'll live, who won't?
Should you watch the first part before watching this?
While it would certainly be helpful to watch Beetlejuice to grasp the events of the second completely, it's not essentially a dealbreaker. Even if you are new to the world of the Deetz family, you are welcome just the same since BB stands tall even as a standalone sequel. Burton dials F for freaky in this joyous film that is a perfect Halloween entry.
Head to a 4DX to get the best experience
If possible, I'd recommend watching it in 4DX, because there is no better way to completely immerse yourself in this film that warrants your complete attention. With your seats trembling, the lights scarily flickering, and the artificial breeze slapping your cheeks, how can you not feel the magic of Burton's world? There's always a lot happening for you to be surprised with.
Giddy humor soaks the film completely
This no-holds-barred sequel unloads a barrage of surprises. While the beginning may seem a little too basic, the movie rapidly picks up pace when all the pieces of the puzzle start fitting together. Even when things seem messy, the movie never runs out of juice, and each actor has such fun with their characters that you can't choose whose story you love the best!
As expected, Betelgeuse remains the most fun character
With Betelgeuse being back from the (un) dead, there is mighty fun to be had here and Michael Keaton, despite his relatively limited screentime, ensures that we have as much a blast as he does. As expected, he gets the best lines and sells his character so well that it's tough to believe that over three decades have passed since we first met him.
Look out for its emotional tones and commentary on grief
While BB is almost always a fun ride that aims to make you laugh and scare you a little, it also has visible undercurrents of intense emotions. There's constant commentary about unprocessed grief and trauma, and there are multiple characters who're stuck with their pent-up emotions. Not once does Burton use in-your-face commentary to get these points across, and therein lies the film's charm.
The writing efforts show in Astrid's character
I also liked how Astrid is sketched out: she is inclined toward environmental protection because her father was too, and reads Crime and Punishment because "pain and suffering are inevitable." She's sculpted by a disgruntled, misanthropic attitude toward life, so this is extremely on-brand for her. We've only known for a little while, but we already understand the personality traits that define her.
Stops short of being excellent due to messy climax
Despite its extreme watchabilty and rowdy attitude, BB also has some glaring slips. Monica Bellucci, as Betelgeuse's ex-wife, gets a roaring, one-for-the-ages entry, but she spends the entire film just...walking and her character amounts to absolutely nothing. Other than that, the climax completely gives way and is extremely convenient and rushed. Such endings eventually undercut the criticality of the entire story.
We recommend watching it in theaters; 3/5 stars
There are more characters, more threats, and higher stakes this time, and with a runtime under two hours, the film is largely, if not completely, tightly packed. Its set pieces, visual prowess, and acting ensemble make it one of the most enjoyable theatrical outings lately. Burton hasn't announced part three yet, but I would love to meet Betelgeuse in the afterlife again. Will you?
