BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE

It's been thirty-six years since we were introduced to Beetlejuice in Tim Burton's zany horror comedy. It's lived a long and healthy life, adored by many that include myself who grew up on it, as well as gaining new generations of fans who are being introduced to it nowadays. The idea of a sequel is something that has always been rumoured and, quite honestly, I thought it would never see the light of day. Well, here we are in 2024 and the Juice is certainly loose - with Tim Burton returning to deliver some spooky fun right in time for Halloween with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River after an unexpected family tragedy. Still haunted by Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), Lydia's (Winona Ryder) life soon gets turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), discovers a mysterious portal to the afterlife. When someone says Beetlejuice's name three times, the mischievous demon gleefully returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

A film like Beetlejuice getting a sequel all these years later is definitely something that could have ended in disaster. Thankfully though, this sequel delivers plenty of fun and games to warrant its existence. While predictable, the story mostly works - Alfred Gough, Miles Millar and Seth Grahame-Smith harking back to the good old days while leaning more into the world of the afterlife this time around. It's a very funny film too, at its best whenever the titular character is let loose on proceedings, Keaton just a sheer joy to watch when in full swing. It does decide to step away from the zany antics every now and then to try and hamfist in a plotline with emotional beats that don't quite land, hindering the overall experience as a result.

It would be incredibly wrong to talk about Beetlejuice Beetlejuice without applauding the outstanding work from the departments that make this an absolute visual wonder. The production design, costumes, make-up and visual effects - brilliant practical ones at that - are all incredible and really do immerse you in the experience. It might be an odd thing to say but, as good as the film looks, it does seem to look a little too clean compared to the original - everything from the sets to the make-up just missing that grimy look from the first film.

The idea of Michael Keaton returning to this iconic role is one that always felt like it would be a dream. He does not disappoint here again, easily the best thing about it all as he engages with the madness with such charisma and deviousness. It's great to see the likes of Winona Ryder and Catherine O'Hara return to their roles and having so much fun, but it's new additions Jenna Ortega and Willem Dafoe who leave the biggest impression. Dafoe is in delightfully daft form while Ortega, who feels like she was born to be in a Tim Burton film, manages to shine amongst such strong performers.

The film does make a minor mistake in not having enough Monica Bellucci - who makes one hell of an entrance. She commands the screen whenever present and almost gets lost to take a backseat to other goings on, when her arc would have been one of the more compelling to explore further.

Hearing that iconic theme from Danny Elfman had me grinning from ear-to-ear and settled me right in to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. It's a sequel that earns its stripes when it could have gone horribly wrong - Tim Burton bringing it all to life in only the way he could.

Verdict: ★★★½