Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice - A treat for my inner child. ✨

Since I was very young, Beetlejuice was my favorite movie. When I was 7 years old, my dad showed it to me, and it marked a turning point in my life as a movie lover. I started researching Tim Burton and watched all of his films that I could find. There was something about his style that captivated me, entertained me, and even moved me. Naturally, all my friends were forced to watch the movie, just because of how insistent I was.
Years later, with the release of the Wednesday series, my love for Tim Burton remained intact, and I couldn’t help but get excited about the long-awaited sequel to Beetlejuice. After many rumors, the much-desired confirmation finally arrived.
Thursday, September 5th, was the event of the year for me. I bought the tickets in the pre-sale, and, of course, I made all my friends who I had forced to watch the movie when we were kids come with me. I was so excited that on the same day, I re-watched the original movie and every possible video with fun facts about it, just to have everything as fresh as possible.
That day, sitting in the movie theater, I became the 7-year-old girl who was obsessed with Tim Burton again. I found myself excited and laughing once more at one of his creations.

One knows very well that sequels can be a double-edged sword, and it's more likely that you will leave feeling disappointed or knowing that the first movie can never be matched. However, despite the high expectations I had going into the theater (very high), Tim Burton did not disappoint me at all. In my opinion, it was absolutely perfect. The original story was respected, the inclusion of new characters works, and the update is fitting, because we have to understand that the Beetlejuice from 1988 might be a bit cancelable in 2024.

Speaking more specifically about the characters, the return of Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O'Hara is priceless and brings a very pleasant sense of nostalgia. Winona shows us a grown-up Lydia Deetz, now the mother of Astrid (Jenna Ortega) and the host of a successful show about her ghostly visions. Lydia is getting a taste of her own medicine, having a rebellious daughter with whom she is struggling to maintain a good relationship after the father's death.

We see Catherine O'Hara in a character that shows great growth, which I think is one of the strongest points of the movie. From being a mediocre artist, she becomes a highly recognized person. It shows how, over the years, her relationship with Lydia has strengthened, and they manage to have a very good mother-daughter dynamic.

Michael Keaton dons his Beetlejuice suit to show us his eternal love for Lydia, without leaving aside the classic demon tricks that we know him for from the first movie. He doesn't lose his comedic touch.

As for the new additions, we have Jenna Ortega, who is now part of Tim Burton's permanent squad, and, of course, she does not disappoint. If there was anyone who could play Lydia's daughter, it was none other than Jenna Ortega. Astrid somewhat mirrors the adolescence Lydia once had, appearing 'angry' at life and eternally embarrassed by her mother. She is a teenager who feels a lot of pain, unable to get over her father's death. An additional detail is that she doesn't believe in ghosts; she thinks her mother's show is just a cheap trick.
Astrid falls in love with Jeremy, another of the new additions, who turns out to be a ghost who killed his entire family. When Astrid is able to see him, it becomes clear that she has inherited the same gifts as her mother. Unfortunately, she falls for his deception and, without hesitation, performs a ritual to exchange souls, which triggers a journey to the afterlife for her, Lydia, Delia, and the reunion with Beetlejuice.

On the other hand, we have Delores, who turns out to be a vengeful ex-girlfriend of Beetlejuice who sucks souls. In my opinion, this was a clear crossover between Corpse Bride and Sally (since she has the same stitches on her face). I thought this was brilliant. I do feel that maybe they didn't give her the best ending, as she is taken out of the scene rather quickly by the sandworms, but I did think it was a nice nod and tribute to other Tim Burton films.

Just as there are new additions, there are also some absences. Surely, if you've seen the movie, you might have wondered why. From what I've been researching, the ghost couple does not appear because, since ghosts don't age, it would be difficult to bring back the actors from the first movie without showing the passage of time. However, there is another reason, which I believe is the real motive: Alec Baldwin, who plays Adam, has been involved in a legal case for a death that occurred on a film set he was working on.

Additionally, another character who is notably absent is Lydia's father, who is dead from the first scene, which is why the whole family gathers for the funeral. According to what I found online, he has also faced legal troubles. He was reportedly in prison and is currently under investigation again. Therefore, we can understand that Tim Burton chose not to bring these actors back to maintain a good reputation and to prevent the movie from getting any negative comments because of them.

All in all, I think it’s a movie worth watching, one that moves you, entertains, and doesn’t lose the essence of the first film. Perhaps I’m not the most objective person in the world due to my love for Beetlejuice, but I truly believe it’s a very good tribute, and the Tim Burton of the '80s has resurfaced.