What do the original Batman Michael Keaton and Schitt’s Creek’s Catherine O’Hara have in common? They’re back in the sequel to the cult classic film Beetlejuice, which is aptly titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
When the original film was released in 1988, no one had had really seen anything like it.
Messy in camera special effects, comedy, horror and bonkers characters, it was all the brainchild of a little-known director called Tim Burton.
Now, almost four decades later, they’ve done a sequel.
I got the chance to attend a press screening of the new film before the release, and my expectations were low. Most sequels are, by their very nature, terrible. I think of the new Disney Star Wars trilogy and shudder.
It seemed that was also front of mind for the cast, when I spoke to them a day later at a hotel on Billionaire’s Row, just south of Central Park.
“[It’s the] expectations!” said O’Hara.
“The first movie, no one knew Tim [Burton], no one knew any of us. You’re working with great freedom. And this one has great expectations and that was what was scary about signing on because you just wanted to do it right.”
I asked the same of Michael Keaton – Beetlejuice was arguably the film that supercharged his fame before landing roles such as Bruce Wayne/Batman in the original films.
“We didn’t want to mess it up – instead of just going to do another one and know it’s going to make some money,” said Keaton.
“We were never going to do that. So, we thought if we ever do it, we better do it right.”
The film was certainly hoping to make a splash. If anything, you could tell by the effort they made at the press event. An entire floor of this very expensive New York hotel had been totally remodelled with props for the day. The lighting was dark and Beetlejuice-y, and new carpets were laid.
Sets from the film were recreated throughout the floor and the ballroom that was serving lunch to the world’s entertainment press. The Banana Boat song was playing on loop throughout the corridor. It was quite remarkable.
And a hilarious juxtaposition for me, as only a few hours later, I was supposed to be flying out to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
“[It was] such an iconic piece of art, you know, that was fun,” said Keaton.
“And someone said do you want to do it again – and I said, yeah I would.”
The original film cast had also been joined by some new faces – including Wednesday star Jenna Ortega.
“I can’t compare it to anything I’ve worked on. The sets and everything are unreal,” she said.
So, is the film worth seeing? I feel that while I’m qualified to give comment on US politics or complex geo-political events, movie reviewing is very new to me.
But if you love film history, and the exceptional original, you should absolutely see Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. It’s just good fun.
“Just enjoy yourself,” said Keaton, when I asked a particularly dumb question which went along the lines of “what do you hope the audience will take away from the film”, thinking it was a smart thing to ask.
“Go and have some laughs, everyone in the world can use it,” he said.
Just don’t say his name three times.
