Directed by Tim Burton from a screenplay by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is the long-awaited sequel to the 1988 horror comedy classic “Beetlejuice.” The story follows the grown-up goth Lydia Deetz, played by a returning Winona Ryder, three decades after her bizarre encounter with the ghost and “bio-exorcist” known as Betelgeuse, brought to life again by Michael Keaton.
When a death in the family reunites Lydia with her estranged daughter, Astrid, played by Jenna Ortega, the two struggle to reconnect as dark forces from the afterlife compel Lydia to do the unthinkable: willingly summon Betelgeuse back into her life.
Thirty-eight years have passed since the first installment, but Tim Burton has not missed a single step. The director effortlessly recreates the grotesquely idiosyncratic yet relatably monotonous afterlife he created so long ago. Though “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” relies more on CGI than its predecessor, the digital effects are decent and there are still plenty of practical elements to keep the fantastical world just tangible enough.
Sequels often fight an uphill battle to be more than repetitive nostalgia bait and maintain the thematic integrity of their stories. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” may not have anything new to say, but it does continue the original’s exploration of the inevitability of death and the need to appreciate life while it lasts. In particular, Astrid’s plotline works as a heightened metaphor for mental and emotional struggles without deviating from the irreverent tone.
This sequel’s behind-the-camera talent could only shine thanks to the stars in front of the camera. Ryder maintains all of Lydia’s essential characteristics from the first film while believably conveying how the passage of time and adulthood has evolved her. Keaton’s Betelgeuse is as insane and hilarious as ever, not to mention he has much more screen time than in the original. The last legacy actor, Catherine O’Hara, is an absolute treat as the lovably obnoxious Delia. For the portrayal of Lydia’s daughter, the film could not have made a better choice than Jenna Ortega, who proves herself the perfect successor to Ryder while imbuing Astrid with a unique identity.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is a wildly fun time at the theater that will not soon be forgotten.
