Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice...

The long-awaited sequel to Beetlejuice is finally here! I don’t know what to make of this movie. It is pretty… strange and unusual. It wasn’t what I was expecting, and in fact, I’m disappointed. I think it’s hard to let go of the original Beetlejuice after being with it for as long as I’ve been alive. Sequels nowadays for beloved movies feel more like fan service and nostalgia than a proper continuation of the original story. I would have preferred a sequel to come out in the 90s rather than now.

The Pros
It seems Beetlejuice has a more prominent role in this film than the original, even if he still doesn’t have as much screen time as other characters. Michael Keaton is always entertaining as Beetlejuice, and it’s great to see that he still has his charm after all these years. Also, Catherine O’Hara steals the show with her wacky and crazy character in Beetlejuice. The film takes a new, original direction and provides more of a glimpse into the afterlife. I have always loved the practical effects and stylization of Tim Burton’s work.

The Cons
Beetlejuice suffers from having too many plotlines going on at once. William Dafoe and Monica Bellucci’s characters add nothing to the film because the story lacks a clear direction. I wish there had been more emphasis on their roles, but the movie was too convoluted. Nothing would have changed if their characters had been removed from the film. Moreover, the tension between Lydia and Astrid is underdeveloped, leaving many unanswered questions. We don’t get a glimpse into their family before Astrid’s father dies, and they don’t show how Lydia and Delia’s relationship grows over the years.

The lip-syncing scene to Richard Harris’ MacArthur Park in this film feels forced and odd. It seemed more organic in the original movie when the cast was performing Day-O. It’s like Burton was trying to recreate the same magic that just wasn’t there. Furthermore, Winona Ryder’s portrayal of Lydia didn’t sit right with me. I wish Lydia had a more mature, corporate goth vibe instead of clinging to her teenage goth image from the past. Thirty years later, it just doesn’t work for her character. She also lacks the same energy and spirit she had in the original film. 

Overall
If you’re a fan of Beetlejuice, the new film is worth watching. I saw many favorable reviews online and felt major FOMO because so many people liked it, but I feel “meh” about the sequel compared to everyone else. I really wanted to love it! I know there are others like me out there, but we don’t want to rain on everyone’s parade. I might need to watch it again to see if I love it as much as everyone else.

I still had a great time watching a fun movie at the Alamo. I dressed up in a cute Beetlejuice outfit and managed to get a Sandworm popcorn bucket. They also had “Tally Me” banana pudding on the Beetlejuice-themed menu, which was a nice treat!