BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (2024)
Starring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe, Danny DeVito, Burn Gorman, Arthur Conti, Filipe Cates, Nick Kellington, Santiago Cabrera, Sami Slimane, Amy Nuttall, Mark Heenehan, Liv Spencer, Skylar Park, Matt Lyons, Jane Leaney, David Ayres and the voice of Charlie Hopkinson.
Screenplay by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar.
Directed by Tim Burton.
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. 105 minutes. Rated PG-13.
Earlier this week, I was excited to see the ghost with the most is back in action. Hundreds packed the Philadelphia press screening of the long-awaited sequel to the 1988 cult classic Beetlejuice – and while it has finally arrived, it’s great to see it has not lost its spark.
Admittedly, going in I feared that a modern remake couldn’t hope to compliment the original, but I can say that it really did deliver. The style and effects were still true to Tim Burton’s classic style, just more polished and cleaner, considering the newer technology. For example, I was impressed that the oddity of the Netherworld had not been compromised by slicker effects. Instead it was heightened and was a true homage to the original.
Much of the original cast returned to the fictional town of Winter River, CT for this second installment including Winona Ryder, Micheal Keaton, and Catherine O’Hara all reprising their original roles. Joining the cast were talents such as Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, Justin Theroux, Danny DeVito, and many others.
The plot was set for a wholesome story about reconnecting the now grown Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) with her teenage daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega). Of course, their emotional healing process is constantly interrupted by questionable men, and the killer ex-wife of none other than Beetlejuice himself. I was able to thoroughly appreciate the writers’ ability to follow different subplots, while remaining coherent with the main story.
Of course, no movie is without its flaws, and while the movie was still able to make sense with many subplots, I felt there may have been a few too many. It was my feeling that giving Astrid one focus subplot, specifically about her father and trying to reunite with him, would have given a cleaner development for her without some oddly placed tension due to a love interest. Regardless, Arthur Conti did a good job in his role as Jeremy, and his plot twist was very well executed.
A consistently incredible aspect of this movie was its humor. The performances of Michael Keaton (Douglas), and Catherine O’Hara were especially incredible throughout. Overall, the cast played off each other beautifully and delivered a delightfully hilarious performance together.
I highly recommend seeing Beetlejuice Beetlejuice when it comes to a screen near you this Friday. Not just for its all-star cast and how well it complements the original, but the soundtrack is also amazing. It includes “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” from the original movie, and also 70s classics like Donna Summer’s “MacArthur Park,” Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville,” and The Bee Gees’ “Tragedy.”
Jordan Wagner
Copyright ©2024 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: September 6, 2024.
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