News culture I had a lot of fun watching Beetlejuice 2, the funny and successful sequel to Tim Burton’s cult film starring Jenna Ortega
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice hits theaters September 11th and you won’t want to miss this great sequel to the cult 80s film.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: A successful return to basics for Tim Burton
Can we produce the second chapter of a memorable ’80s film thirty-six years later, retaining 80% of the original cast, without the result being just a potpourri of bland fan service? The answer is yes. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, still directed by Tim Burton, who was previously considered by the public to be on the decline, is the kind of sequel that fans of an iconic first film generally enjoy. : Namely, a respectful homage to the original work, peppered with well-placed winks without being offensive, and supported by a gallery of new characters who steer the plot into new and extremely entertaining themes. The filmmaker maintains his love of handmade work here, focusing more on grotesque makeup and shaky sets that perfectly recall the magic of the first work.
For this project, Burton decided on a necessary and above all very personal return to basics, accompanied by cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos (Murder on the Orient Express) and screenwriters Gough & Millar and Seth Grahame-Smith (Lego Batman Movie). ): “In recent years I have become disillusioned with the film industry. I lost my way a little, so this film gave me some energy. Going back to the things I like to do, the way I like to do it, with the people I like to do it with. That’s the only way I can succeed. I have to love what I do“, he said recently at the Venice Film Festival. On Rotten Tomatoes, Tim Burton’s feature film achieved a very good average of 77%, with the press agreeing on the following consensus: “Michael Keaton’s devious poltergeist still has plenty of juice left to provide a fun and entertaining time in this return to form from Tim Burton, which combines charming practical effects and macabre gags.
A funny and effective comedy
But what is it about then? After a terrible tragedy, the Deetz family is forced to return to Winter River. Still haunted by the memory of Beetlejuice, Lydia (Winona Ryder) must rush to the aid of her daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega), a rebellious teenager who accidentally opens a portal to the afterlife. There is chaos between the world of the dead and the living, and it only takes a few minutes for someone to say Beetlejuice’s name three times. In the lead role we find a Winona Ryder whose character has lost her boldness and aggressiveness, probably plagued by the vagaries of life and the vipers who have been after her money since she rose to fame in the gentle business of death. The actress, with her still recognizable looks, remains impeccable from a Michael Keaton who is even more delicious and hilarious (and disgusting) than before, leaving the jokes of the ’80s behind and instead using a more effective but still just as crude brand of humor.
The brilliant Catherine O’Hara also gives us the pleasure of returning and has not lost her splendor. She reveals her share of positive emotions here, with Burton taking the risk of letting her characters develop in new, very exotic directions. The rest of the cast is made up of new crazy personalities, including the excellent Jenna Ortega, Burton’s little protégé since the series Wednesday on Netflix, who plays Lydia’s daughter here. He is accompanied by a brilliant Willem Dafoe in the field of comedy and a Monica Bellucci with a presence as captivating as it is anecdotal. Because yes, if the cast is generous, There are also many completely optional presences in the course of the plot, whose problems can be solved with a snap of the fingers. And yet everyone is able to provide the joke, the twist, or the devastating line that makes us laugh in a completely chaotic adventure with absolutely impeccable rhythm. In short: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is fun, light, fresh and the perfect entertainment for your late evening.