Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - Let’s Not Say It A Third Time, Okay?

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a certified crowd pleaser. Laughs a minute combined with great visual gags make the film a greatly enjoyable time. But some pointless characters, a slim story, and a deathly slow pace keep it from the greatness of the original. But this is certainly a really enjoyable time and a great return to form for Tim Burton. Where has this Tim been man. I’ve missed him. Also, the commitment to practical effects and visual gags just works so well here. It gives everything despite being so out there and weird a true grounding to everything so that it’s easier on the audience to believe. Also Michael Keaton sure hasn’t missed a step hasn’t he? I’m glad he’s not all over the film and only has brief moments despite being in more of this film than he was in the first.

I really, really, really quite liked this film. I don’t think it’s great, and I’m struggling between my score here, because while it is a good deal worse than the original, it’s also deftly funny and has tons of great moments. The story isn’t great and the characters are slim, and these characters that seemed like they were going to have relevance but don’t end up having any and are honestly pointless in the case of Monica Bellucci and wasted in the case of Arthur Conti’s role; and I’ve already noted that the pace is slow as hell. It takes honestly forever for the film to get going and the continuous cutaways to other bits can drag the film’s pace and tone down, but honestly I didn’t really mind the grand scheme of it because the film itself is really fun. 

Which is the entire thesis on the film. It’s a truly fun and great time at the theater and is a genuine crowd pleaser. People will be walking out of this glowing. I certainly did. Let’s just hope they don’t make a third one. 

2024.