One of the annoying things of modern-day trailers is practically the whole story, with the best lines and stunts, being revealed in the two-minute promo. That is not a problem with ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,’ the sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 critical and commercial darling. The trailer, which has been showing since forever, serves its purpose as a teaser of all the goodies to come.
In this highly anticipated sequel, we find Lydia (Winona Ryder), the Goth teen who could see dead people and nearly married the politically incorrect ghost Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) back in 1988, now in an entirely different phase of her life. Lydia has transformed from the sullen teenager into a mature woman hosting a TV show, Ghost House, where she visits haunted houses. However, her rebellious daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega) doesn’t share her mother’s perception of the ethereal world. Despite Lydia’s abilities, she astonishingly cannot see the ghost of her own husband, Richard (Santiago Cabrera), who also happens to be Astrid’s father.
As life progresses, Lydia enters into a relationship with her producer Rory (Justin Theroux). However, the complicated relationship with Betelgeuse, whose presence she still feels, adds layers to her current life. This dimension of the storyline unfurls intriguingly, especially when Lydia spots Betelgeuse in the audience during a taping of one of her shows. Life takes a melancholic twist as Lydia’s father, Charles, passes away, prompting the Deetz ladies—Lydia, her stepmother Delia (Catherine O’Hara), and Astrid—to return to the original Ghost House in Winter River.
In the afterlife, things are equally tumultuous. Betelgeuse is being hunted by his malevolent ex-wife Delores (Monica Bellucci), a soul-sucking witch. Delores’s lethal past involves poisoning Betelgeuse during a plague, a backstory that adds a thrilling but chilling layer to the plot. Meanwhile, Astrid, struggling with being cooped up with her family, finds solace in Jeremy (Arthur Conti), a moody youngster who indulges in Dostoevsky from his secluded tree house.
As Halloween nears, the narrative teems with anticipation.
. Astrid and Jeremy’s plans to distribute candy to trick-or-treaters and Delia’s dedication to recording blood-curdling screams for her grief installation create various strands of subplots. Such meticulous details contribute to the film’s rich tapestry, enhancing the quirky, twisted world that Tim Burton so masterfully designs.
However, it’s not just the storyline that captivates; it’s also the cast’s energy and chemistry. The original crew, featuring Keaton, Ryder, and O’Hara, shine brightly. Keaton’s portrayal of Betelgeuse is as gloriously unhinged and entertaining as ever. Ryder smoothly transitions from a lost Goth girl to a lost Goth mum, while O’Hara brings her usual comedic flair to the role of the avant-garde installation artist, Delia. The new cast members inject fresh vitality, particularly Bellucci, whose portrayal of Delores enthralls viewers with its wicked charm.
The ensemble includes Willem Dafoe as Wolf Jackson, a B-movie star embodying Dashiell Hammett’s hard-boiled detective type, and Danny DeVito, who plays a janitor becoming one of Delores’s first unfortunate victims. These additions infuse new dynamics into the film, making the characters resonate profoundly with the audience.
From a visual perspective, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ is nothing short of a marvel. Burton’s limitless imagination is evident in the afterlife’s bureaucratic mazes and the ingenious Soul Train to the Great Beyond—an homage to the African American music genre. The film’s aesthetic journey spans varied looks, from black-and-white sequences recounting Betelgeuse and Delores’s ill-fated romance to animated renderings of Charles’s unfortunate demise. This sequence, explaining that Charles didn’t die in a plane crash or drowning, but rather by a shark decapitation following the crash, adds layers of dark humor that fans will relish.
This sequel, a sweet delight, makes the 36-year-long wait worth every second. With its distinctive visual style, engaging plotlines, and an exceptional cast, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ is a testament to Tim Burton’s unparalleled ability to weave together whimsical exuberance and gothic allure. Fans and newcomers alike will find something to marvel at in this resurrection of a beloved classic, currently running in theatres.
Published – September 06, 2024 05:20 pm IST
English cinema / World cinema
