Lamar Reviews - "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!"(Airdate 9/13/2024)

Beetlejuice was a huge hit in 1988. There has been a call for a sequel for a long time. We even had Beetlejuice the Musical, which I saw, and was fantastic. Now after 36 years it is finally here.

Tim Burton has said that this film would only be made if Michael Keaton would return to reprise his role. Keaton said in March of 2014 that this is the only sequel he's interested in doing. Winona Ryder’s one condition for doing “Stranger Things” was, if “Beetlejuice 2” ever got off a ground that she could take a break and do it.

As always, making a sequel, especially 36 years later, is not only difficult, but also very risky. The fact there is an entire generation of people who haven’t seen the original is a two-edged sword. You have a fresh new audience, but they won’t get the references to the old one.

The good news is, Tim Burton and the cast not only accomplished the task, they did a superior job!

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice brings back three actors from the first movie: Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice, Winona Ryder as middle-aged Lydia Deetz, and Catherine O’Hara as Lydia’s stepmom, Delia. Charles Deetz is deceased but shows up in a way that does not require actor Jeffery Jones to be in the movie since he is now a registered sex offender. He wanders through the afterlife without a head after a shark bite.

Charles’ death is what brings the family together. Lydia, who now hosts a tv show where she sees dead people, called “Ghost House with Lydia Deetz is there along with her slimy producer/love interest, Rory, played by Justin Theroux. Jenna Ortega plays Lydia’s estranged daughter, Astrid, who thinks her mother’s “seeing dead people” is all fake, and she does her best to avoid her mother at all costs. While doing so she meets Jeremy, played by Arthur Conti, an awkward possible romantic interest. Bettlejuice comes up with a plan to get with Lydia, but before that he must escape his ex-wife/soul sucker Delores, played by Monica Bellucci.

The movie is a quick 1hour and 45 minutes, Rated PG-13 for violent content, and bloody images, strong language, some suggestive material and brief drug use.

Keaton could not have been more “on point” as Bettlejuice. He looked and played the part like it wasn’t 36 days, much less 36 years after the original.

The entire cast was awesome, including Catherine O’Hara, who was extra great, and never disappoints. Danny Devito was a welcome surprise, as was Willem Dafoe. He plays Wolf Jackson, an over-the-top dead action star who is head of the afterlife’s police force.

All in all, a great sequel that is equal to the task!

My Score: 5 Solid Ice Cold Budweisers