Beetlejuice Beetlejuice movie is a love letter to longtime fans (Review)

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is in theaters this Friday, Sept. 6. FlickSided got to screen the movie early to share our thoughts. Is the highly anticipated sequel worth the big-screen experience? Read our spoiler-free review!

Let’s get straight to business as only the iconic Beetlejuice would. Does the sequel replicate the magic of the first? No, it does not. But I don’t think this is a bad thing. Let’s be honest, Tim Burton set the bar high with the beloved 1988 dark comedy-horror, even for himself! And since it has been 36 years since the original, a lot of new magic had to be sprinkled into the formula to keep things modern and for it all to make sense. Well, nothing makes sense in Beetlejuice's world, but you know what I mean! The movie would need to explain inconsistencies and aging in the afterlife, for example. This is why many of the original characters do not return in the sequel.

All of this to say, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is very much worth watching. The sequel is a love letter to longtime fans, and it is an experience that must be had alongside other Day One fans and on the big screen. Here’s what we loved, and didn’t, about the new movie. 

The sequel features Michael Keaton at his finest! And we expected no less from the actor, who once again flawlessly brings the charismatic bio-exorcist, Betelgeuse, to life (or so to speak).

In the movie, Keaton is in charge. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is at its best when Keaton’s iconic character is at the center. And though we do get to see Beetlejuice a lot more in this sequel than we do in the original, it’s still not enough. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’s biggest flaw? Not enough Michael Keaton. Well, that AND the misuse of Monica Bellucci. The actress portrays Delores, Beetlejuice's ex-wife who is out for revenge. This entire subplot seems like a waste of screen time. Beetlejuice gives audiences a hilarious recap of his short-lived marriage to Delores, but it still feels like we missed a whole movie and were watching a love-revenge story we didn't ask for.

This quirky escapade wouldn’t be possible without Michael Keaton, but Winona Ryder’s role as Lydia is arguably just as essential. Fans first meet Lydia in the original movie as the goth teen at the center of Beetlejuice’s mess. Even though Lydia is now an adult (a divorced mother, to be exact), her character brings fans comfort. Keaton’s Beetlejuice may be the leader, but Winona’s Lydia is the heart of this story. I’m happy to share that fans will love Lydia even more than before after watching Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. And who thought that was possible?

I expected to enjoy Astrid (Jenna Ortega), Lydia’s teen daughter, more than I did. Don’t get me wrong, Astrid is a great addition to the franchise. It’s Astrid’s storyline that provides one of the movie’s twists. However, Lydia is still our queen. The story is the most engaging when Lydia is on the screen. 

Speaking of Lydia being our queen, let’s all bow down to Catherine O’Hara, who can do no wrong! O’Hara returns as Delia Deetz, Lydia’s stepmom, and she’s as fun and charming as ever! Delia adds a quirky tone to the movie and gives us one of the biggest surprises in the sequel. 

Once more, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a love letter to longtime fans. Though not flawless or as magical as the first, the sequel is a must-see clever and fun afterlife romp. Trio Keaton, Winona, and O'Hara make Beetlejuice Beetlejuice worth the watch, capturing the weirdness that we loved from the first movie and sprinkling it with nostalgia. It's the perfect kickoff to the Halloween season.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is in theaters Friday, Sept. 6. The movie is rated PG-13 and runs for approximately one hour and 44 minutes.