Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) | Film Review

In 1988, Tim Burton was preparing to take on one of the greatest superheroes in comic book history in Batman. But before he did that, he delivered an absolutely audacious and creatively inventive endeavor that bandied about between fiendishly delightful comedy and a meditative reflection on death and the great beyond. Now, decades later, Burton aims to do it again by bringing the band back together for another whirlwind trip with the undead in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Winona Ryder returns as Lydia, now host of an impactful show where she talks to the deceased and proves immediately how missed she’s been on the big screen. A family death brings her back to Winter River, along with her stepmother, Delia (Catherine O’Hara, recapturing Delia’s artistic flair), and estranged daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega, the obvious successor to 80s Winona energy).

Beetlejuice (or Betelgeuse, as it were) has been a wild character for years. Difficult to pigeonhole, Michael Keaton’s titular take on the architect of afterlife debauchery is essentially a demonic Bugs Bunny with a zebra skinned color palette, and that creative absurdity remains fully intact in Tim Burton’s return to the character with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Elsewhere, Ryder wears her manic tics and winsome charm like a badge of honor, and aptly carries the film as the lead despite Keaton’s top billing.

Subplots run wild in this sequel as Beetlejuice is hunted by the mysterious Delores (Monica Bellucci) and ghost cop Wolf Jackson (Willem Dafoe), Astrid deals with new love, Lydia debates marrying shady businessman Rory (Justin Theroux), and ole Beets has never forgotten about Miss Lydia.

There’s a lot to unpack here, and not everything pays off as you’d hope while we bounce from character to character. At times, the script attempts so much it appears almost as though it were a concept flailing its arms in search of focus, though Burton and friends ultimately find their footings. There are also multiple surprises that spring as these plot threads finally begin to connect when we roll into the final act.

Overall, for a sequel to a decades old film, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice lives up to the lofty expectations of fans, but newcomers beware as it might be a tad over your heads if you’re completely unfamiliar with the original. It’s a natural evolution to the first film and showcases once again that despite rarely finding himself in the conversation of greatest actors, Michael Keaton is one of the most versatile entertainers of the past few decades.