It’s been 36 years since Beetlejuice was originally released in 1988 and the juice is loose. By that, I mean that Tim Burton’s creative juices are flowing again and I’m happy to say that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the iconic director’s best movie in years.

The Juice Is Loose

While I was initially disappointed that the Maitlands (previously played by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) won’t be returning (though there’s an explanation for this in the movie), it was ultimately a good decision that made this sequel better and more focused, narratively. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is primarily about the three generations of the Deetz family; Catherine O’Hara’s Delia, Winona Ryder’s Lydia and Jenna Ortega’s Astrid. Lydia and Astrid are estranged from each other, but the death of Charles Deetz (Jeffrey Jones does not return to reprise the role but the character does technically appear though I won’t spoil how) brings them back together to the classic and still-recognizable Maitland-Deetz house from the original 1988 movie.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice also introduces several new characters, including Monica Belluci’s Delores (Beetlejuice’s ex-wife), Justin Theroux’s Rory and Willem Dafoe’s Wolf Jackson. Out of all of these new characters, Willem Dafoe’s is the clear highlight, and the veteran actor is having so much devilish fun with his dead-B-movie-actor-turned-afterlife-detective character that he’s an enjoyable watch. Justin Theroux’s Rory is just there to play the role Delia did in the first movie (he’s Lydia’s boyfriend in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) while Monica Belluci’s Dolores is a menacing presence but doesn’t fulfil her full potential. There are a few other characters as well, and as a result, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has several ongoing plot threads at the same time (in comparison to the fairly simplistic plot of the first movie).

However, while some might call these multiple plot threads ‘messy’, I don’t think so. It adds to the chaotic and random nature of what happens in the movie, just like in the first one, because you never know what will happen next and that’s where a lot of the fun in watching this movie comes from. Many of the side characters are there simply to add to all the craziness and madness. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice also explores a bit of the titular character’s origins briefly in one of the best sequences in the entire movie (inspired by old black-and-white European horror movies), but the movie never overused Beetlejuice. Michael Keaton gets more screen time this time around as Beetlejuice but just a bit longer than the first movie and he never overstays his welcome. It’s nice to see Keaton slip into his old madcap role like the first movie was just yesterday.

The biggest triumph of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is that Tim Burton manages to retain the unique charm and humour, as well as the deranged vibe and weird atmosphere of the first movie, with trippy visuals and practical effects to enhance the experience. It’s been a while since we’ve seen Tim Burton showcase his signature style and gothic aesthetics in a way that’s not toned down and used to fit an existing IP (like 2016’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and 2019’s Dumbo). It’s a delight to see Tim Burton at his best again and able to let his creative juices flow freely in an original movie that’s not tied or restricted to any outside IP.

Deathly Delightful

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is just such a fun and nostalgic romp with Tim Burton letting loose all of his juice. It’s freaky and cartoonishly macabre fun in all the good ways.

FINAL SCORE: 80/100

We attended a press screening of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery Malaysia. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice premieres in Malaysian cinemas on 5 September 2024.