Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a kind of big family reunion organized by Tim Burton. The result is chaotic and breathless, but we remember the good times more.
The Deetzes are no strangers to death. Thirty-six years ago, they were haunted by the ghosts of Barbara and Adam Maitland—Geena Davis and Alex Baldwin in the 1988 film—as well as the mischievous demon Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) in their home in Winter River, Connecticut.
Since then, death has struck them directly. The youngest, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), lost her father, Richard (Santiago Cabrera). Her mother, Lydia (Winona Ryder), must now say goodbye to hers. Charles (Jeffrey Jones in the original) lost his life following a plane crash – the accident is illustrated in a hilarious stop-motion sequence (stop motion).
Reeling from the tragic death of her husband, Delia (Catherine O’Hara) invites everyone to the family home for the funeral. She also begins a unique grieving process. The visual artist has become more sympathetic over the years, but remains delightfully eccentric.
Lydia, who uses her gift of interacting with specters on the show Ghost House for 15 years, feels a strange sensation when returning to her old residence. Bad memories of Betelgeuse, who wanted to marry her when she was a teenager, resurface. Her lover and impresario Rory (Justin Theroux, deliberately unbearable)) only makes things worse.
For her part, Astrid, exasperated by her family’s delusions, finds refuge with Jeremy (Arthur Conti), a young man who is a recluse like her, whom she met after falling off her bike.
Round trip to the afterlife
For various reasons, which will not be revealed, the Deetz women will visit the afterlife where Betelgeuse and several other bizarre creatures reside. It is in this world that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice makes perfect sense, but also goes astray.
PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. PICTURES
Catherine O’Hara reprises her role as Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
The locations and the undead are fabulous thanks to the magnificent sets, makeup, accessories and gothic costumes. We find everything we love about Tim Burton’s imagination (Edward Scissorhands, Corpse Bride, Dark Shadows) and his collaborators, including designer Colleen Atwood.
The many supporting characters of Beetlejuice Beetlejuicewritten by Alfred Gough and Miles Millard (the series Wednesday), clutter the story with an excess of narrative plots. The majestic Monica Bellucci plays Delores, Betelgeuse’s ex-wife with a fascinating past. However, she only appears in a few important scenes. The former actor who thinks he’s an investigator, Wolf Jackson, played with conviction by Willem Dafoe, is more present, but is ultimately only a distraction.
As in the first installment, this universe is animated by the madness and anarchy of Betelgeuse. Michael Keaton reprises the role as if he had never left it and seems to be having a blast for our greatest pleasure. Those who remember the original well will recall that he arrives quite late in the story and this is again the case in the sequel. The number of characters also reduces his screen time. Fortunately, Catherine O’Hara, Winona Ryder and Jenna Ortega deliver performances that add humanity to this morbid-comic tale.
There is also the wonderful music of Danny Elfman, catchy songs, a bit of dancing and many winks that will please fans of one of the most legendary horror comedies.
In the room
Horror comedy
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (VF: Betelgeuse Betelgeuse)
Tim Burton
With Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega
1 h 44