Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: Tim Burton, Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder return - but was it worth the wait?

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Director: Tim Burton

Starring: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Orega, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, Monica Belluci

THE surge of nostalgia for a classic film like Beetlejuice ensured simmering interest amongst movie buffs down the years for the much-discussed sequel.

Tim Burton, Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara created something special with the 1988 original which offered a fresh perspective on death and the afterlife.

There was talk of a sequel immediately in the aftermath of its huge critical and commercial success.

So perhaps the biggest surprise is that it took 36 years (count ‘em!) for the follow-up to hit the silver screen. It makes waiting for a pick-up on a 101 call to the police - or an Oasis reunion - feel like the blink of an eye by comparison.

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Was it worth the wait?

In a word, yes!

After a family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River.

Still haunted by Beetlejuice (Keaton), Lydia's (Ryder) life is turned upside down when her teenage daughter, Astrid, (Ortega) accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife.

It’s happened to the best of us.

With trouble brewing in both realms, it's only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice's name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

From the small town overview scene setter to the closing credits, it’s clear Burton’s hands are on the tiller and that the man who went on to bring us Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride knows which buttons to push amongst his appreciative audience.

The best thing about Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

The goofy self send-up by Willem Dafoe in a supporting role as actor/detective Wolf Jackson is pretty much worth the price of admission alone while Wednesday star Ortega was surely born to play Ryder’s daughter.

Burton had said he would only consider revisiting the movie if Keaton agreed to be involved and you can see why with the Batman star having an absolute ball wreaking merry havoc and spitting out the funniest lines. O’Hara, another survivor of the first movie outing, has lots of fun sending herself up as Delia Deetz, while the return of composer Danny Elfman nurtures the gothic feel of the soundtrack with a few great surprises thrown in for good measure.

It’s a terrific, fun follow-up which should hit the spot with newbies as well as nostalgia buffs alike.

And the good news for those too young to have been around first time around is that the original is screening on Netflix.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is screening at Eden Court until Thursday, September 26. See here for times.

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