Bonkers Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has me wondering what on earth I just watched-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice marks a return for Tim Burton to his beloved cult classic film about a frisky self-proclaimed ‘Ghost with the Most’ after 36 years – it’s also a return to unhinged creative form for the quirky director.

This long-gestating sequel is the most brazenly Burton-esque and bonkers Tim Burton has been in years in terms of macabre Frankenstein creatures, weird situations and off-beat humour.

In fact, he’s even more disturbing and freaky with his signature style than in the first Beetlejuice (ever wondered what he’d look like as a newborn? Well, now you’ll know).

It’s all wrapped up in a chaotic canter through a storyline that doesn’t quite make room for all of its stars – which number Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci and Justin Theroux alongside returners Catherine O’Hara, Winona Ryder and, of course, Michael Keaton.

Oh yes, and Danny DeVito has a fun cameo too, because why not?

This left me pondering what on earth I’d just watched as Burton at his idiosyncratic best is hard to put in a box – or rate.

Of course, Michael Keaton is back in this bonkers sequel (Picture: Parisa Taghizadeh/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

‘This long-gestating sequel is the most brazenly Burton-esque and bonkers Tim Burton has been in years in terms of macabre Frankenstein creatures (Picture: AP)

First, to no one’s surprise: Keaton is brilliant as always in a role that fits him like a glove. Nearly four decades might have passed, but time has barely moved for our lecherous spectre, busy as ever in the Afterlife with a team of shrunken headed minions propping up his business.

And for all those people who were ‘shipping’ Lydia (Winona Ryder) and Beetlejuice after their failed wedding last time, now Lydia’s no longer 15? Well, you were absolutely correct, with Beetlejuice still feeling a ‘psychic connection’ – although reference is made to their 600-year age gap.

Fabs shouldn’t be surprised as Keaton stipulated that, alongside not beefing up Beetlejuice’s screen time (don’t worry, we still get plenty), his ghost should absolutely not have moved with the times. There’s no such thing as woke for a centuries-old, selfish bio exorcist still operating within his own rules for the Afterlife, even if he is redeemed – for us at least – by his wisecracking humour.

Michael and Winona Ryder team up in the sequel (Picture: Geffen/Warner Bros/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

Burton also brings back other aspects the audiences want – the striped sandworm (still lovingly anti-CG), the creepily distorted beak faces, Beetlejuice’s quick-witted apparitions and certain fan-favourite costumes.

And in terms of music, alongside the return of Danny Elfman’s stirring and mischievous theme tune, other fun musical moments include a truly unexpected remix of Day-O and reveal Beetlejuice to be a fan of Michael Bolton.

As promised, the handmade vibe remains strong, keeping Beetlejuice safely within its own wacky universe. Why wouldn’t a house wear a mourning shroud?

Burton has fun once again with wildly creative ways of dying on display in the famous Afterlife waiting room too, from an incinerated Father Christmas to a woman who is (still) being eaten by her cats.

The onscreen mother and daughter share believably good chemistry (Picture: AP)

However, it’s down to Ryder and Ortega as her estranged teenage daughter Astrid to anchor the storyline, sharing believably good chemistry as mother and daughter.

The way they find themselves together in the Afterlife is well woven into events, after they are reunited with Lydia’s step-mother Delia (Catherine O’Hara, reminding us Moira Rose was not the first look she played) in Winter River following the unexpected death of Lydia’s father, Charles Deetz.

Obviously, they end up in the attic with the iconic model town first built by Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) – even more ingeniously used this time around – and of course someone utters Beetlejuice’s name three times. And it’s not who you think.

Justin Theroux dusts off his funny bone as flamboyant media type Rory, producer of Lydia’s TV show Ghost House and a boyfriend that will have you rolling your eyes. He also propels a fair amount of the plot.

Justin Theroux dusts off his funny bone as flamboyant media type Rory (Picture: AP)

Willem Dafoe is having a whale of a time too as a dead actor that thinks he’s a private detective and always has an assistant with coffee on hand – although rather less to do than meddle a bit with Beetlejuice.

Monica Bellucci, meanwhile, proves to be the most beautiful stapled-back-together person (again, very Burton) in cinema history, stalking the halls of the Afterlife for her ex-husband, Beetlejuice. She’s pretty terrifying as Delores and provides fun insight into her former husband’s past, but rather fizzles out in terms of a climax for her character by the end.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is kept to a pretty tight running time of 105 minutes, welcome in today’s world of bloated movies. However, that does mean that it’s sometimes a little frantic and disjointed. Especially with several sub-plots and stars to juggle.

The film is a tricky one to define and determine  – was I blown away by it? No, not quite. But that’s a tall order after 36 years of building nostalgia attached to the original, and with such an oddball type of film.

And Burton is never a filmmaker easily – or quickly – judged.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Entertainment – MetroRead More