Beetlejuice 2 – 2024
Beetlejuice 2 is one of those sequels made way too many years after the original film premiered. It means that it becomes a difficult balancing act between being an original sequel and having enough nostalgia connected to the original film. There are other examples out there that struggled with the same dilemma. The most recent I’ve seen is probably Axel F which managed the balance pretty well. Also, the latest installment of Ghostbusters comes to mind.
A few of the actors are the same as in the first film. Michael Keaton of course, but also Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara reprise their roles. I think they pulled that off pretty well. Lydia (Winona Ryder) is now the host of a ghost-talkshow. That’s the best I can describe it. She sees ghosts and makes a living out of it. Although I don’t think she’s happy with it. I get the impression that she most of all wished she didn’t see the dead. And honestly, who wouldn’t?
A few cool references
But Beetlejuice 2, although it manages to squeeze in a few cool references to the first film isn’t a wonderful film most of the time. I see most of it as transportation time to the scenes that are truly amazing. You’ll know which scenes I mean. The German impressionism inspired afterlife scenes that only Tim Burton could bring to life. I love those scenes but as a whole, there’s not enough body and soul to this sequel.
There are also a few other big names involved in Beetlejuice 2. We see Danny DeVito in a pretty small part as a janitor. I don’t think we even see his face, but still you can tell it’s him from the body language. Wimmem Dafoe does a slightly bigger role as an afterlife detective. And then there’s Jenna Ortega that at least I know best from playing the lead character in the Addams Family series Wednesday.