Beetlejuice 2 Review: It’s Showtime, Again!

When I first heard a Beetlejuice sequel was actually happening after years of speculation… Oh, the scream I scrumpt. It was a moment. Growing up, Beetlejuice was my everything, and Lydia Deetz, the ultimate strange and unusual icon, was my comfort character. As an autistic person who often felt like the “other” in most settings, Lydia’s curious, outcast energy was a joy to see on screen. So, sitting in that theatre, bouncing (read: stimming) on my chair, I was more than ready for another trip into the Neitherworld.

And let me tell you—this sequel did not disappoint. It’s packed with moments that had us all laughing out loud, and as soon as the intro music kicked in, I could not stop grinning. Tim Burton has found his way back to what he does best, merging the creepy with the hilarious and using practical effects, puppetry, and stop-motion animation in disgustingly beautiful ways. It was a difficult recipe to pull off, but I think there was just the right amount of old and new to build a ghost worth summoning.

Michael Keaton’s Betelgeuse is back in full form, as nasty and inappropriate as ever. Winona Ryder’s Lydia Deetz, now a world-weary TV show host, brings a wonderful sense of melancholic humour, capturing the spirit of someone who’s been through it all—and still stuck dealing with ghosts, both literal and emotional. Her fractured relationship with her rebellious daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega, perfectly cast) adds layers to the mother-daughter tension, which is fantastically karmic.

Lydia Deetz: Then vs. Now

Lydia, the goth queen of my childhood, was in something of a mental purgatory this time. She’s gone through her fair share of tragedies and was suffering with her mental health as an anxious TV medium and a mum in a manipulative relationship. She was lost, and as her step-mum Delia Deetz mentions, she needed to find her old self again.

That said, trauma has a way of reshaping people, and I get it—Lydia’s been through the wringer. But when her daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), credits her dad for her intelligence instead of her mum? Oof. A little nod to Lydia’s brilliance would’ve been nice, especially considering her original character was the epitome of a smart, compassionate misfit. Our time with her was precious, and I would have liked to have more memorable, powerful moments. Winona was perfect, though. 10/10. No notes.

The sequel’s plot has a pinch of everything. From a soul-sucking ex-wife (Monica Bellucci) who pieces herself back together with a staple gun, flop actor Wolf Jackson (Willem Dafoe) and dodgy TV producer Rory (Justin Theroux) who is, somehow, Lydia’s “partner”. Oh, and Bob. Sweet, sweet, Bob. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice revels in its absurdity. It’s stuffed with over-the-top set pieces and musical numbers that echo the eccentric spirit of the original, though occasionally, it veers toward sensory overload with so many ideas jostling for attention.

There’s something almost sweet about Burton’s return to this underworld playground. They all know they can’t recapture the exact magic of the 1988 cult fav, but it doesn’t have to. Rather, it delivers a party that celebrates its roots while introducing new peculiarities and a cast that genuinely appears to be having the best time. It’s messy, sure, but that’s part of the fun—embracing chaos and thriving in the strangeness.

Catherine O’Hara: Comedy Gold

Now, let’s talk about the utter legend that is Catherine O’Hara. Delia, in all her delightful, unstable artist glory, steals the show whenever she’s on screen. Her comedic timing? Impeccable. If there’s one thing the sequel nails, it’s THEE Delia Deetz. If anything could resurrect this franchise and keep it breathing, it’s her sheer self-obsession and lack of self-awareness.

Michael Keaton, now 73, still rocks the role of Beetlejuice with timeless exuberance. The pervy humour takes a backseat this time around, but Keaton brings just enough of his signature mischief to remind us of his original, cheeky haunts. Even after all these years, Keaton pulls off that perfectly twisted charm, proving he was made for this role.

Music Hits (and Misses)

The music? Eh, it was trick or treat. The classics we know and love are back, and hearing them sparked all the right neurons. But some of the newer choices didn’t land quite as well. I would have liked to see a cohesive theme, per the Maitland’s love of Harry Belafonte, but we didn’t get that. There was a possession scene to ‘MacArthur Park’ that I felt dragged on a bit—probably because that song has never been my thing. I was longing for something along the lines of Day-O or Shake Senora to bring that slap of ridiculous sing-along energy.

Final Thoughts

Is Beetlejuice 2 perfect? Nah. But is it a good time from start to finish? YES. Despite a few minor nitpicks, the film manages to capture the bizarre, chaotic soul of the original. It’s the first Burton film in quite a while to show a glimpse of his nostalgic, out-there magic, with plenty of giggles to keep you in high spirits. You’re in for a lot of fun. It’s campy, it’s weird, and it’s certainly unruly.