The ghost with the most is back as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice comes hurtling from the afterlife and onto the big screen. The eagerly anticipated sequel to Tim Burton's 1988 classic has been floated since the original film first made waves, but it's taken 36 years for the freelance bio-exorcist to embark on another caper – and not in Hawaii like the filmmakers once wanted. Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O'Hara all return to their iconic roles alongside Beetlejuice newcomers Jenna Ortega, Monica Belluci, Willem Dafoe and Justin Theroux for a spooky, schlocky story that sees Winter River once again plagued by paranormal entities.
Following the events of Beetlejuice, Lydia Deetz (Ryder) is a famed paranormal investigator with her own TV show managed by her partner Rory (Theroux). Her relationship with daughter Astrid (Ortega) is strained following the death of her husband and Astrid's father, but they're forced into an awkward family reunion when Delia Deetz (O'Hara) informs them both that her husband Charles, Lydia's father and Astrid's grandfather, has died. After having visions of the titular demon (Keaton), Lydia is forced to call on Beetlejuice's help when Astrid is led astray by Jeremy (Arthur Conti), a young man from Winter Rivers with a dark past. But Juice has problems of his own, as actor-turned-cop Wolf Jackson (Dafoe) informs him his ex-wife Delores (Belluci), a soul-sucking demon, is back and looking for revenge.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is Burton back to his best, embracing the campy, surreal nature of his story and running with it. The film bounces from one bizarre situation to the next, with a comedic choral version of the Banana Boat song as a nice Easter egg for fans, and a truly horrifying Beetlejuice baby for those there for the horror. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments to love, but narratively Beetlejuice Beetlejuice struggles to juggle its many subplots into a coherent and engaging story. Audience tolerance for the convoluted plot may wane if they're not already familiar with the film's characters.
Still, Keaton is firing on all cylinders as Beetlejuice himself, given more screen time in the sequel and utilising it to full effect. Ortega is a stunning addition to the franchise, with her troubled relationship with mother Lydia culminating in some of the film's most tear-jerking, emotional moments. Similarly, Dafoe is as weird and wonderful as ever in the role of cheesy Hollywood blockbuster cop Wolf, garnering almost as many laughs as the spectacular O'Hara.
Despite its somewhat messy narrative, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a fun romp for both fans of the franchise and newcomers not yet acquainted with the Handbook for the Recently Deceased. And the references to the original never overwhelm the story, instead contributing to the comedy value and camp flair that help it stand apart from its predecessor. Beetlejuice 2 is Tim Burton's return to form and a warm welcome back to Winter Rivers for those who were desperately waiting.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is released in UK cinemas on September 6.
