The Juice is loose once again with the release of director Tim Burton’s anticipated sequel to his original 1988 film, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The film, starring the original cast of Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara, along with new members including Jenna Ortega and Willem Dafoe, returns to the style that made Burton famous. Instead of relying on visual effects that would characterize his more recent work (notably, the ill-received 2019 Dumbo remake and 2012 Dark Shadows), Beetlejuice Beetlejuice makes great use of the practical effects that defined the first film. Despite having an all-star cast and the makings for a classic Burton picture, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a disappointing sequel to a Halloween-time staple.
Opening with a near shot-for-shot replica of the original’s opening, accompanied by Danny Elfman’s iconic score, it quickly becomes clear that Burton is sticking to nostalgia and style over all else. Because of this, the script falls short in several areas. Most prominently, Winona Ryder’s Lydia relies on iconic lines from the original film and callbacks that often distract from any real character development.
In terms of performance, every member of the original cast returns with the same force and energy they had over thirty years ago. Michael Keaton’s Betelgeuse and Catherine O’Hara’s Delia are the highlights of the film, delivering hilarious and entertaining scenes throughout. However, the film is bogged down by a dull performance from Jenna Ortega. Her inclusion is an obvious attempt at modernizing the franchise, with a Netflix-style Gothic teenage romance subplot starring what is essentially a clone of Wednesday Addams. Above all, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a much-needed reminder that not all movies need a sequel. However, it seems as though audiences have collectively said the name three times once more, summoning yet another return for the ghost with the most.