It has been a long time since Tim Burton made a decent movie. Not that his films have been terrible. They haven’t been up there with his early work, like the Batman movies or Edward Scissorhands. So, returning to the character of one of his most inventive works seems a good idea if he is to capture the glory days of his work. Beetlejuice, which came out in 1988, was a smash hit, a dark and delicious comedy with a brilliant central character. Now, 34 years later, we get the sequel with most of the original cast returning. Does it hit the same heights as the first classic film? Almost.

Lydia Deetz returns to her old home after her father’s death. Now, as a paranormal expert with her own TV show and a widow, she has to try to reform her relationship with her daughter, Astrid. Yet, returning to her old home brings back memories of her frightening past. When Astrid discovers the model in the attic, this leads to the Ghost’s return with the Most, and for Lydia, the nightmare begins again.

Beetlejuice worked so well because it was unlike anything else out there. A comedy that played with your head. You were entering a world of weird characters, outlandish situations, and an afterlife more like a bizarre government office. Let’s not forget the dinner party where Harry Belafonte came back into flavour. It was also so good because it used physical effects, whether stop-motion animation or various masks and costumes. These were the things that, if Burton were to make the sequel work, needed to return to. Thankfully, he does.

Burton has let his imagination run riot, extending the world he created in the first film. The sandworms are back, and so is the whole afterlife world, now including the shrunken heads of office workers led by Bob. There is another level to this incredible world, the soul train, in which the dead are taken to various areas, all to a disco station.

The film struggles with the numerous subplots. Some help push the plot forward, while others seem pointless and lead to dead ends. Lydia’s relationship with her manager is half-baked, as is the hunt for Beetlejuice’s wife, who wants him back, led by a dead actor who used to play a detective. Some even seem to be there as a convenience. Astrid’s almost instantly falling in love is rushed, but then you understand this is only to add another plot thread.

Yet, in the same breath for all the annoyances, the film does manage to work, thanks to a solid cast and some hilarious moments. Any film that can re-invent Richard Harris’s MacArthur Park up there in my books. And it’s just a joy to have the Juice back on our screen being as disgusting and hilarious in equal doses. It also has an amusing running gag about coffee.

The cast all seem to be having a blast. Winona Ryder returns as Lydia and looks like she cannot believe she will be back in this world again. Catherine O’Hara steals the film, returning as Delia, the artist who has taken her creativity to another realm. She hits each comic line with pure perfection. Newcomers to this realm, Jenna Ortega as Astrid and Justin Theroux, fit into the madness perfectly. At the same time, Willam DeFoe, as the detective/actor, chews the scenery every chance he gets, and Monica Bellucci is wasted as Beetlejuice’s former wife and is given little to do.

This leads us to Michael Keaton’s triumphant return as Beetlejuice. Most now know him for his more serious roles, but to me, he will always be Billy Blaze from Night Shift and Beetlejuice. Even though he doesn’t have much screen time, with everything else going on when he appears, the film lifts, and he throws everything he has to see if it sticks, which is most of the time. Beetlejuice has become an iconic character of the 80s, and it’s nice to have him back in the 21st century.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice isn’t as good as the original. It’s too bloated with subplots and takes time to really get going. Yet it’s Burton’s best film in years and does what it sets out to do: entertain.

4 out of 5

Director: Tim Burton

Starring: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, Arthur Conti, Nick Kellington, Burn Gorman, Danny DeVito, Santiago Cabrera

Written by: (also story) Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, (story) Seth Graham-Smith, (characters created) Michael McDowell and Larry Wilson

Running Time: 104 mins

Cert: 12A

Release date: 6th September 2024