Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Review - Tim Burton’s Nostalgic Return
After 36 years, the ghost with the most is back, and honestly, it’s about time. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice finds Tim Burton returning to the Gothic sandbox that made him a household name, with results that are simultaneously nostalgic and frustrating. It’s a film that captures the weird energy of the original while occasionally tripping over its own modern Hollywood ambitions.
Welcome Back to Winter River
The story finds us back in Winter River, Connecticut, where Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) has grown up to become a paranormal investigator with her own TV show - because of course she did. When a family tragedy brings her back to the old house with her teenage daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega), it’s only a matter of time before someone says the B-word three times and chaos ensues.
The plot is appropriately bonkers, involving multiple storylines that somehow converge in the afterlife’s bureaucratic nightmare. We get soul-sucking ex-wives, daddy issues, teenage rebellion, and a wedding that makes Corpse Bride look like a Pinterest board. It’s quintessential Burton, for better and worse.
The Performances
Michael Keaton slips back into the striped suit like he never left. His Beetlejuice remains a perfect storm of manic energy and inappropriate behavior, delivering one-liners with the same gleeful malice that made the character iconic. Keaton understands that Beetlejuice works best in small doses, making his screen time feel precious rather than overwhelming.
Winona Ryder brings genuine gravitas to an older Lydia, showing us someone who’s channeled her teenage weirdness into a career while still carrying the trauma of her earlier supernatural encounters. Her performance grounds the film’s more outrageous moments.
Jenna Ortega continues her gothic renaissance as Astrid, bringing the same deadpan energy that made her Wednesday Addams so compelling. The generational conflict between her skeptical teenager and Ryder’s believer creates some of the film’s best dramatic moments.
The supporting cast, including Catherine O’Hara reprising her role as Delia, provides solid comedy relief, though some characters feel more like nostalgia bait than fully realized people.
Burton’s Visual Playground
Visually, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is both a return to form and a showcase for how Burton’s aesthetic has evolved. The practical effects and makeup work that made the original so charming are back, though they’re now supplemented with CGI that occasionally feels intrusive.
The afterlife sequences are typically Burton-esque - bureaucratic nightmares populated by creative grotesques. The waiting room for the recently deceased remains a masterclass in background comedy, while new additions to the underworld maintain the same whimsical morbidity.
However, some sequences feel overstuffed with visual information, lacking the focused weirdness that made scenes like the dinner party possession so memorable. It’s Burton with a bigger budget, which isn’t always better Burton.
What Works (And What Doesn’t)
The Good: When the film leans into its practical effects roots and character-driven comedy, it recaptures the magic of the original. The core relationship between Lydia and Astrid provides emotional weight, while Keaton’s return feels genuinely joyful rather than obligatory.
The Less Good: The film suffers from sequel bloat, introducing multiple plotlines that don’t always mesh cohesively. Some jokes feel forced rather than naturally weird, and certain sequences prioritize spectacle over the intimate strangeness that made the original work.
The Verdict: It’s a worthy sequel that doesn’t quite capture lightning in a bottle twice, but comes close enough to satisfy fans while introducing the weirdness to a new generation.
Essential Gothic Supplies
Prepare for your return to the Netherworld with these carefully curated essentials:
The Art of Tim Burton - Complete Collection
Dive deep into Burton's visual universe with this comprehensive art book. Perfect for understanding the aesthetic that influenced a generation of goths.
Victorian Gothic Decor Collection
Transform your living space into something Lydia Deetz would approve of. Because normal is overrated and interior design should reflect your inner darkness.
Professional Special Effects Makeup Kit
Channel your inner makeup artist and recreate those iconic Beetlejuice looks. Perfect for Halloween or just Tuesday if you're feeling particularly gothic.
The Nostalgia Factor
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice succeeds best when it honors the original without simply rehashing it. The film understands that what made the 1988 version special wasn’t just the weirdness - it was the heart beneath the grotesque exterior. The relationship between Barbara and Adam Maitland gave the original its emotional core, and here the Lydia-Astrid dynamic serves a similar function.
The film also wisely avoids explaining too much about its supernatural logic. Like the original, it presents its weird world matter-of-factly, trusting the audience to go along for the ride without needing everything justified or explained.
Cultural Context and Modern Relevance
Arriving in 2024, the film feels both timely and timeless. Lydia’s evolution from outcast teenager to paranormal celebrity reflects our current obsession with turning everything into content, while Astrid’s skepticism mirrors a generation that’s simultaneously more connected and more isolated than ever.
The generational conflict between belief and skepticism, tradition and innovation, feels particularly relevant in our current cultural moment. The film doesn’t beat you over the head with themes, but they’re there for viewers who want to dig deeper.
Final Thoughts
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is that rarest of creatures: a legacy sequel that mostly justifies its existence. While it doesn’t quite recapture the perfect weirdness of the original, it offers enough ghostly charm and genuine laughs to satisfy both nostalgic fans and newcomers to Burton’s peculiar universe.
The film works best when it remembers that the most effective horror-comedy comes from character rather than spectacle. When it focuses on the relationships between its living and dead characters, it finds that sweet spot between scary and silly that made the original so enduring.
Is it necessary? Probably not. Is it enjoyable? Absolutely. In a world full of soulless franchise extensions, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice at least has the decency to be genuinely weird.
Rating: 3.5/5 Handbook for the Recently Deceased
A solid return to form that proves Burton still has some magic left in his striped suit. Worth seeing for fans of the original, with enough new elements to feel fresh rather than purely nostalgic.
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