Eliovi’s review published on Letterboxd:
“As Dostoevsky would say, ‘Later, fucker!’”
Tim Burton’s decades-in-the-making sequel to Beetlejuice, his beloved classic, is a mess – but it’s a charming mess. Somehow, perhaps thanks to Burton’s quirky sensibilities, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice comes together quite beautifully, functioning as a tale about parenthood, family, and grief. It captures the growing pains of teenage years through Astrid (played by Jenna Ortega, whose aura is the perfect addition to this world) and compounds it by adding grief, stardom, and unsubtle mommy issues. Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) remains as funny as in the original. Catherine O’Hara steals the show as Delia Deetz, bringing her comedic prowess to this sequel and her character remaining a highlight throughout. While Monica Bellucci looks stunning and menacing as Delores and Willem Dafoe adds a lot of humor as Wolf Jackson, neither of their characters felt necessary nor their existence justified; in fact, I’d argue that they felt forced into the story – Delores more than Wolf Jackson – and it’s to the film’s detriment, muddling an already ambitious plot. That said, to my surprise, all the storylines culminate in a finale that’s satisfying and cathartic – and for that reason, I’m more forgiving of my grievances with the rest of the film. It doesn’t need to be said, but the production design is expectedly stunning, as is Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice may forgo the original’s more serious themes about life and death, but it doesn’t rid itself of its core values, tackling similarly heavy subjects lightheartedly and treating viewers to a fun ride.
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