Despite a middling script, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice marks the successful return to the big screen for director Tim Burton.
Synopsis of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Synopsis: Following the death of their patriarch Charles, the Deetz family – Lydia (Winona Ryder), Astrid (Jenna Ortega), and Delia (Catherine O’Hara) reunite back in the original home of Winter River. While there, the remaining Deetz run afoul of the trickster demon Betelguese (Michael Keaton) as his ex-wife Delores (Monica Bellucci), a soul-sucking demon, begins to torment the afterlife.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Marks Tim Burton’s Return
After taking a break from filmmaking following the release of his film Big Eyes in 2014, director Tim Burton returns to the big screen. This time helming the long-awaited sequel to his 1988 dark comedy Beetlejuice – Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Reunited his Wednesday collaborator Haris Zambarloukos, Burton and company recreate the world of the afterlife. Zambarloukos shoots the film with an 1:85:1 aspect ratio. This is mixed with Zambarloukos lighting the scenes in the afterlife with greens, blues, and purples. Whereas in the scenes set in the real world, Zambarloukos provides a grey fall aesthetic. Thus, creating a contrast between the two. Moreover, this overlaps with the production design, which shows the afterlife as a bureaucratic hellhole on multiple levels.
Afterlife Expansion
Additionally, production designer Mark Scranton expands on the original’s take on the afterlife. This leads to the afterlife feeling like a haunted house maze. With it never knowing what you’re going to find. We also see that haunted house feeling with the visual effects, courtesy of special makeup effects supervisor Neal Scanlan and visual effects supervisor Angus Bickerton. Together, the two used multiple different types of effects, ranging from CGI (with the help of VFX companies Framestore, One of Us and BUF) to miniatures. There’s even a stop-motion sequence from Mackionnon & Saunders that’s well done. On top of that, the costumes from costume designer Colleen Atwood, manage to contribute a lot with the characters wearing striking costumes.
Speaking of contribution, composer Danny Elfman returns for his twentieth collaboration with Burton. Elfman produces a score that’s in line with the original. But, is one where where there is a lot more bass in the rhythms. As well as having a lot more chanting. The film also employs the use of modern pop music such as “Somedays” by Tess Parks. Furthermore, songs from Donna Summer, the Bee Gees, and Sigur Ros are used. Which creates a interesting dissonance with the film. As the music used both works with the film and doesn’t work with the film. Moreover, editor Jay Prychindy brings the film in at a reasonable one hour and forty-four minutes.
Flaws & The Real Culprit
However, the real culprit of the film’s flaws can be found in the script. Written by Wednesday creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (with story credit by Seth Graeme-Smith), Gough and Millar cram in a lot of plot in one two-hour movie. So much plot in fact, that the film loses clarity on what it wants to do and which characters to follow. This results in the film being unfocused at times. Likewise, some of the dialogue is reminiscent of the duo’s work on shows like Smallville and the aforementioned Wednesday. Consequently, this forces the film to rely on Burton and his collaborators in cinematography, production design, and VFX to work overtime as a distraction.
Performances in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
When it comes to the cast, Michael Keaton leads with as Betelguese. Keaton reprises the role with such charisma and manic energy. Yet, he plays the role with a sense of desperation. Which leads to the rest of the cast. Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega, and Catherine O’Hara all deliver solid performances. Ryder is much more the straight woman. Whereas Ortega’s performance leans into deadpan teenage angst. Meanwhile O’Hara cranks up Delia’s narcissism to a fun degree.
Rounding down, Justin Theroux brings out some hearty laughs with Theroux as Lydia’s manager Rory. Along with Willem Dafoe as actor turned cop Wolf Jackson. Finally, Monica Bellucci is scary yet seductive as Betelguese’s ex-wife Delores. However, because of the script, the character feels underutilized. As a result, this leads to Bellucci’s performance to be stale and two-dimensional.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Burton makes a return to his goth and macabre stylings. Thus resulting in a manic energy that can be felt throughout. Adding into the energy is Keaton and the cast coming back to the screen thirty years later. But, holding the film back a bit, is a lackluster script by Gough and Millar. Overall, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is still a fun and hilarious return to form by Burton and company.
