Verdict: 3.5/5

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the sequel to the 1988 classic, was released in theaters on Oct. 6. Directed by Tim Burton, it begins with the return of the Deetz family to the fictional town Winter River with a new generation, Lydia Deetz’s daughter, Astrid. Astrid and Lydia find themselves in trouble when paranormal events begin occurring, and a gateway between the living world and the afterlife opens. The storyline involves conflict within the family and ends with a unification that puts an end to the family dispute.

I appreciate the permanence of the cast throughout the “Beetlejuice” series. By reuniting some of the cast from the original “Beetlejuice,” it caters to fans who are invested in certain characters and their stories. 

Astid Deetz, played by Jenna Ortega, had a key role in this film. Her character is the rebellious daughter, who is simultaneously grieving the death of her father while adjusting to her move to Winter River. Ortega has a record of pulling off deadpan, angsty characters, such as in her role of Wednesday Addams in the Netflix Original Show, Wednesday.

Micheal Keaton, playing Beetlejuice, had a great performance throughout the movie. Even in a limited number of scenes, he was really impressive, and he captured the facial and vocal dramatics very well. In GQ magazine’s recent interview with Keaton, he said that he requested limited screen time, as Beetlejuice’s character did not have as much of a key role in the sequel compared to characters such as Lydia and Astrid Deetz. Keaton’s performance compared to the original film is relatively similar, but the sequel depicts a more restrained Beetlejuice, which I prefer over the original depiction of Beetlejuice.

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” was a pretty fast-paced movie and I often found myself not knowing what was going on due to the persistent change of scenes and multiple plot twists. The randomness would be a negative aspect of the film, but the chaos is what made the movie what it was. The fast pacing made the movie more entertaining, and it created a more engaging experience since I was constantly trying to follow along.

In the beginning, the plot seemed clichéd and predictable. The romance aspect of the movie was especially overused and lacked depth with the “bumping into each other and falling in love” trope. The introduction of the possible connection between one of the main characters, Astrid, and Jeremy, another newly introduced character to the “Beetlejuice” saga, was corny and did not make a lot of sense if applied to the real world. However, although the beginning seems disappointing, the rest of the film has many plot twists regarding the romance aspect, which eventually ties everything together and justifies the clichéd introduction.

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’s” writing is nicely executed. The witty style caters to a large audience, having humor both older and younger generations can enjoy. One thing I would note before seeing this film is it will not be enjoyable for those with a weak stomach, like myself. The CGI and realistic props were impressive, but at times, a bit gross. Although the film is listed as a horror-comedy, most of its themes lean more towards the comedic side.

My overall rating of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is 3.5 out of 5 stars. I am not sure if I would rewatch it because I was a little repulsed by the CGI, but the movie is worth at least one watch. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is a decent mix of humor and horror. Personally I enjoyed the movie mostly due to its quirkiness and the overall aesthetic. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” was a nice way to kick off fall and stir up the Halloween spirit.