Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice: Does it Live Up to the Greatness of the First Movie?

“Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice” is a 2024 film directed by Tim Burton. The movie marks the long-awaited return of one of the most iconic supernatural comedies in film. 36 years later, the sequel breathes fresh life into the mischievous and chaotic world of the original 1988 Beetlejuice film. Fans of the film have been very eager to see how the beloved characters, storylines, and signature dark humor have evolved over the decades.

The film brings back key original cast members, with Michael Keaton reprising his role as the one and only Betelgeuse, and Winona Ryder’s ruminative character Lydia Deetz. Their return is a major highlight of the film, particularly Keaton's performance, which captures the same deranged energy that made the character a fan favorite. His portrayal is crazy and chaotic, embodying the essence of the original, while also adding new layers to the ghostly character. Ryder's character Lydia is now older, wiser, and struggling with the next chapter of her life, adding sadness yet still a quirky dimension to her character. The sequel also introduces fresh new faces such as Jenna Ortega, who plays as Lydia’s daughter, Astrid. Casting Ortega gives the movie a more “modern” feeling to it.

The film was fabulous and does an amazing job with balancing the old nostalgia with new factors. The storyline of the film was really enjoyable, as it dives deeper into the rules of the afterlife, exploring new realms and the complications of being a ghost in a modern world. Apart from the storyline, the way the sequel introduces new supernatural elements really expands the story, while still packing in the humor and absurd situations that fans expect. The humor throughout had a lot of sarcasm which made this film so much more fun.  

This movie was really good and entertaining to watch with friends or family. If you're into weird, semi-scary, and sarcastic humor, then I would definitely recommend this film for you. Overall, it definitely lives up to both expectations and the standards of the first film.