Welcome back to the blog readers. If you know me, you would know that horror is a film genre that I have a love/hate relationship with, and for a very good reason: not many of them are very good. But a dark fantasy comedy horror film? Color me intrigued since there aren't as many of those around. Although the genre of comedy is another love/hate relationship for me, go watch Joy Ride (2023). I did build up a bit of excitement for this film, so would my interest be rewarded with a fun time? Stick around to find out.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was directed by Tim Burton from a screenplay by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar and a story by Gough, Millar, and Seth Grahame-Smith, based on characters created my Michael McDowell and Larry Wilson. The film stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Jenna Ortega, and Willem Dafoe. In the film, Lydia Deetz, who is now a mother, struggles to keep her family together as the demon Betelgeuse returns to haunt her.
Now here is the thing regarding this film. I never saw the original film (like at all), and I did not know what to expect going into the film. I will admit though that I did get intrigued by the marketing for this film and the somewhat positive word of mouth is what got my ass in a seat. Unfortunately for me, I feel like I saw a different film than Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Hell, if it will get me to the afterlife sooner after seeing this film, Beetlejuice. I...
Sorry, I had to fight my way out of Hell to get back here. Something about a Soul Train that I refused to get on? Regardless, this film was painfully bad in my opinion. All of the performances (minus Michael Keaton's) felt phoned in and lifeless, the comedy was not funny, and the story felt rushed, contrived, and like it was just wistfully put together.
Before I do anything in this review, I personally want to talk about Michael Keaton's performance in this film because it is the second best part about this film. Keaton was quoted in an interview as saying he had the most fun working on this film than any other film he has been in, and I personally can see it in his performance. You can tell he is having fun, especially in certain scenes where there is a lot going on. You can see that he is relishing his return to the character after nearly 40 years in his facial expressions and his actions. His performance will never get him any awards recognition, but it was fun as hell.
As opposed to Keaton's performance, I have to make a note that I could care less about literally everybody else in the film. The character of Lydia Deetz played by Winona Ryder is not as interesting to me as Joyce Byers is (her character in Stranger Things (2016-25)). Catherine O'Hara (while seeming like she was having fun) came off as weird as JD Vance is. Jenna Ortega has more charisma as Wednesday Addams (her character in Wednesday (2022-)) than she does as Astrid Deetz. Justin Theroux's character is cringe-filled and annoying as hell (in the sense I really wanted to punch him). Monica Bellucci is clearly bored in her role of a disgraced lover of Betelgeuse. And finally, Willem Dafoe's character is completely and utterly useless.
I had mentioned earlier that the story of this film was completely rushed and contrived, and here is why. First of all, I do have to say there are major pacing issues with this film, with nothing of substance happening until the second half of the film. There are a bunch of plotlines going on at once, and it is evidence of not much care being put into the story. First of all, there is the plotline with Monica Bellucci's character Dolores and what she is looking to achieve. Then there is the stuff with Delia Deetz and her adventure. Then we have Lydia doing her own thing, and Astrid doing her own thing, and Betelgeuse doing his own thing, and Bob, and Danny DeVito who shows up, and then Willem Dafoe's character, and just kill me now. Then they are all hastily brought together for the final act in what can only be described as Tim Burton's wishful thinking cauldron of bullshit that includes a dance number and an exorcism and time stoppage that literally makes no sense.
To conclude my thoughts, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a cavalcade of crap that wastes great talent with a half-baked story that says a whole lot of nothing. Thank you for reading, and I will see you for the next post.
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