It is easy to forget that Tim Burton’s aesthetic was at one time novel. His striped 3D monsters and vibrant color palette paired with a gothic sensibility have become so iconic and recognizable, that in his more recent films like ALICE IN WONDERLAND (2010) and MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN (2016) one almost wishes he tried his hand at something new.
So it is interesting that despite Burton-fatigue, revisiting BEETLEJUICE is a treat. The film still feels fresh and whimsical, in large part because of the actors’ irreverent approach to the material. Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, and Winona Ryder deliver wonderful performances, fleshing out what will become stock characters in Burton’s world: the buttoned-up suburbanites, and the isolated yet romantic outsider.
Michael Keaton as the titular character is absolutely astonishing. In 1988, Keaton had played lead roles in a few comedy films, making his transition from television. His most notable role from that period was 1983’s Mr. Mom, where he played a suburban stay-at-home-dad. As Betelgeuse, Keaton transformed into a frenetic, lascivious trickster, fully embodying the manic personality shifts of a tortured ghoul.
Keaton’s star turn with this role is completely counter to the types of roles that tend to pave a path to stardom for male actors. The role did nothing to highlight his athletic prowess or his leading man looks. But the critical and commercial success of BEETLEJUICE established him as an up and coming box office heavyweight. When Burton was tapped to direct a big-screen adaptation of BATMAN, Keaton was cast in the lead role.
The Hollywood Reporter summed up BEETLEJUICE best in their 1988 review, “What happens next is as eye-popping as it is impossible to describe. And that’s what makes Beetlejuice such a delight; it’s an experience, rather than another helping of the same old thing.”
