乐播视频

Written by: Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

Content Warning: This article contains spoilers.

The sequel to the 1988 cult classic 鈥淏eetlejuice鈥� hit theaters Sep. 6, continuing the story 36 years later. Actors Winona Ryder, Jefferey Jones and Katherine O鈥橦ara reprise their roles as members of the Deetz family, with Michael Keaton returning as the titular character.

Three generations of Deetz return to Winter River in the wake of a tragedy 鈥� the passing of Charles Deetz, the family patriarch played by Jones. Lydia, played by Ryder, is still haunted by Beetlejuice, and her life soon turns upside down when her daughter, Astrid, played by Jenna Ortega, opens a portal to the Afterlife. 

Realizing she needs help navigating the Afterlife, Lydia summons Beetlejuice, who is attempting to stay hidden from his soul-sucking ex-wife, Delores, played by Monica Bellucci. 

The film offers 105 minutes of hijinx, camp and a score by Danny Elfman, and in true fashion of its predecessor, Beetlejuice only appears on the screen for a total of 17 minutes, 鈥淗e鈥檚 such a fun character to write, but he鈥檚 not the protagonist of the movie,鈥� said writers and producers Miles Millar and Alfred Gough. 鈥淚t was tricky in terms of keeping the right balance. People love him so much. It鈥檚 called 鈥楤eetlejuice, Beetlejuice鈥� for a reason, so he needs to be essential to the movie. It makes you think harder about what those scenes are going to be, and what his contribution to the movie is. It feels incredibly satisfying, and like you鈥檝e spent a lot more time with him than you think. That鈥檚 the magic trick of that character.鈥�

The film鈥檚 reviews, however, vary between a love for the movie and a lamentation of the movie鈥檚 length. 

鈥淚t takes way too long 鈥� nearly an hour of a 105-minute movie 鈥� for Beetlejuice鈥檚 actual story to emerge and for Keaton to take center stage again,鈥� said ScreenCrush critic Matt Singer. Many fans also felt that Beetlejuice and Delores鈥� storyline felt tacked on and that the movie could have done without it. 

However, those who loved the movie, like David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter, spoke of 鈥渮ippy pacing, buoyant energy and a steady stream of laugh-out-loud moments鈥� and how the actors 鈥渨arm to dizzying lunacy.鈥濃�淏eetlejuice Beetlejuice鈥� grossed $111 million domestically and $147 million worldwide on its opening weekend, and currently sits number nine on ScreenRant鈥檚 Top 10 Grossing Movies of 2024 So Far list, between 鈥淭wisters鈥� and 鈥淜ingdom of the Planet of the Apes.鈥�

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu