- BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
- Starring: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara
- Directed by: Tim Burton
- Rated: PG 13
- Running time: 1 hr 44 mins
- Warner Bros
The Juice is loose. And back. And we are all better off because of it.
Michael Keaton is having a resurgence like no other actor since John Travolta. He has done some solid work the past decade, beginning with his Oscar nominated turn in “Birdman” all the way up to last year’s triumphant return as Batman in “The Flash.” This week, Keaton returns to the other 80s-era character he is best known for, the ghoulish Beetlejuice. And he hasn’t skipped a beat.
Lydia Deetz (Ryder) is an adult now and currently hosts a paranormal television show called “Ghost House.” While filming her current episode, Lydia believes she sees a familiar face in the audience. But it can’t be. He’s been “dead” for decades. Upset by her vision she and her boyfriend (and show runner) Rory (Justin Theroux) travel to the old house where Lydia grew up. Upon arrival she learns that her bird-loving father has passed away and that her stepmother, Delia (O’Hara) has planned a funeral ceremony on the grounds. Joined by Lydia’s daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), things begin to get weird (or, considering the house, more weird) as the funeral approaches.
What a fun film this is! A lot of familiar faces, and some new ones, at the top of their comedic game. While I always felt Beetlejuice was almost a secondary character in the first film, here he is front and center and Keaton just lights up the screen in every scene with his cosmic energy. He is joined by some new “dead” characters including Monica Bellucci as the title character’s former wife (beware a woman scorned – she’s a soul sucker, literally), Willem Defoe as an actor who excelled in playing cops on screen and now does his best to patrol the underworld and, a favorite from the first film, Bob – he of the shrunken head.
The script is hilarious, but not afraid to throw in a couple of thrills and Burton’s pacing is pitch perfect. This is Burton’s best work since 2007’s “Sweeney Todd” and ranks up there with “Batman’ and “Ed Wood” as among his best films ever.
The visual effects are outstanding and it’s so nice to see Burton continue to use stop-motion animation as opposed to CGI.
On a scale of zero to five I give “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” ★★★★★