I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” It’s been 36 years since the original. In this one, Astrid Deetz, played by Jenna Ortega of the TV series “Wednesday,” takes center stage as the daughter of Winona Ryder’s Lydia Deetz.
You might think that waiting so long for a sequel would pose challenges for audiences, but not in this case.
Veteran director Tim Burton (“Edward Scissorhands,” “Dumbo”), who directed the original as well, works his magic with his Burtonesque quirky characters.
Beetlejuice, portrayed once again by Michael Keaton (“Batman,” “Spotlight”), makes faces that the audience does not see, but that freak out other characters.
New characters this time around include Beetlejuice’s long-dead wife Delores (Monica Bellucci), who puts her body parts back together in an unorthodox manner with a staple gun.
Danny DeVito plays a chemical-drinking janitor of the undead.
There are some bad choices made along the way. Astrid, for instance, befriends neighbor Jeremy (Arthur Conti), who appears normal at first but is holding some eerie, dark secrets. The film features some questionable character choices, particularly when Astrid befriends her seemingly normal neighbor Jeremy (Arthur Conti), who harbors unsettling secrets.Keaton, of course, is up to his usual outlandish shenanigans as the title character, the title character in a role about as far removed from his former Batman character as one can get.
Ryder is back as Lydia. This time, she’s not the moody goth teenager we remember, but Jenna’s mom. Lydia’s too smart to get involved with the title character this time around. She won’t even say the “B” word.
Catherine O’Hara returns for the second supernatural fantasy as Dilia Deetz, a grandma and artist.
The way Burton exposes the undead world is also a joy to watch. He pokes fun at so-called influencers who are anxious to make themselves known.
The second time around for Beetlejuice and Burton is very popular right now. I wouldn’t be surprised if the audience wants a second sequel. A third “Beetlejuice” is not necessary, however, after the way this one ends.
This is one of the rare sequels that is as good as, or better, than the original. I gave that one a B+ at the time.
The sequel is strange and odd (but in a good way). I highly recommend that audiences see this one in a movie theater to enjoy the spooky communal experience.
Grade: A-
