Casey’s Reviews
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Wherefore Art Thou Beetlejuice?
A sequel to the 1988 cult classic hit theatres in 2024
I recently watched Beetlejuice (1988) for the first time after learning that Warner Bros was producing a sequel starring Jenna Ortega (known for Netflix’s Addams Family reboot, Wednesday) and much of the original cast.
I had high hopes for this sequel after really enjoying Tim Burton’s campy, spooky 80s comedy, but I have to say, I was disappointed.
In my review of the original Beetlejuice, I talk a lot about how sensitively the movie handles really serious issues, such as suicide, sexual harassment, and homophobia, while maintaining the comedy and emotional payoff. The sequel doesn’t tackle any of those topics and instead “Disneyfies” the darkness, removing any semblance of emotional depth in favour of nostalgiabait callbacks and unproblematic anti-heroes.
