'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' Spoiler-Free Review
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Your favorite bio-exorcist is back! Beetlejuice Beetlejuice premiered on September 6 to a whopping $111 million box office in its first weekend. Tim Burton and Danny Elfman have teamed up again for this long-awaited sequel to 1988’s Beetlejuice. The sequel was written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (creators of Wednesday) and was based on a story by Seth Grahame-Smith, who is also slated to write the next Star Trek prequel film.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice reunites much of the original cast, including Michael Keaton as Betelgeuse, Winona Ryder as Lydia, and Catherine O'Hara as Delia. New faces joining the haunt include Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, and Monica Bellucci. The sequel delves deeper into the Deetz family dynamics, with Jenna Ortega leading as Astrid, Lydia’s daughter. Ortega masterfully meets the demands of this cast and story that has been a classic for the last 36 years, joining the Beetlejuice universe as if she had always been there.
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The returning cast revives the story, but some amazing new additions breathe fresh life into the Beetlejuice franchise as well. This was a breakout role for Arthur Conti, who had previously only appeared in one episode of House of the Dragon. Conti plays Jeremy, Astrid's love interest and the on-screen chemistry between him and Ortega makes for a brilliant pairing.
Earlier this year, Conti expressed how proud he was to be a part of the sequel, explaining that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice “stayed true to everything that made the original so fresh and exciting and weird.” Tim Burton’s signature touch is evident throughout the film, seamlessly incorporating his unique imagery with modern humor and gags. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice surmounts most recent sequels as this perfect blend of bizarre elements and heartfelt moments, harnessing the attention of audiences across generations, even decades after the first film.
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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has some more horror elements than its 1988 predecessor, as well as harsher language and some intense gore. There are a lot of settings and visual elements taken directly from the original Beetlejuice, but all of it has a new twist. The film still keeps nostalgia alive for everyone with elements from Beetlejuice lore, like the sandworm, the Handbook for the Recently Deceased, and the model set of the town in the Maitlands’ attic, but all are used differently than in the original.
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The plot of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice allows for more time in the afterlife with fan favorites and new ghostly characters. While much of the movie was not predictable, a few things that got foreshadowed early on played out in a somewhat obvious way, perhaps taking too long to materialize. Some fantastic additions, like the train to the Great Beyond and Willem Dafoe's character, offer exciting possibilities for the Beetlejuice franchise. These fresh concepts could easily inspire a potential spinoff.
Without giving too much away, Monica Bellucci could have benefited from more screen time. Her character needed to be developed further, and there’s a sense that some of her scenes may have been cut after filming wrapped. Every time she appeared, it felt a little disjointed. Dafoe’s character, in contrast, had more presence, and some of that screen time could have gone to Bellucci.
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The decision to keep Lydia’s iconic hairstyle was an intriguing choice. However, the reasoning becomes clear during Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The trailer leaves this unexplained, but it ultimately makes sense within the context of the story, adding a sentimental layer to her character.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice succeeds as a true sequel. The film doesn't feel like a copy of the original, nor does it feel detached from the 1988 classic. You definitely need to be familiar with the first Beetlejuice to fully appreciate this, though the two movies will flow perfectly for future October double features at theaters or Halloween parties.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice overall rating: 9.5/10
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice popcorn collectibles rating: 10/10
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Sources: GQ, Hollywood Reporter
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