Oh Beetlejuice. What a fun, crazy film. Right from the opening credit score which deftly mixes the opening of classic song "Day-O" (Which will come into play later on in the film) with an original opening by Danny Elfman most should know they've walked smack dab into something unique.
Beetlejuice is the story of happily married couple Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin). One day, while driving into town they actidentally drive their car off a bridge and when they finally arrive home, come to the startling realization that they are dead...a fact that both don't take too kindly too. Their home is sold off to city folk Delia ( Catherine O' Hara) and Charles Deetz( Jeffrey Jones) and their gothic daughter Lydia (Winona Rider). Pushed one step too far when the Deetz's decide to so some redecorating, Barbara and Adam turn to Bio-exorcist Beetlegeuse/Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) to help them rid their home of the unwelcome guests. Of course, what the Maitlands don't realize is that whenever Beetlegeuse is involved things are bound to get a little complicated.
For the first half of the film brilliant director Tim Burton treats the audience to what his version of the afterlife is like. During this part things are little bit slow but still amusing nontheless, aided by Burton's mean dark humor streak he injects into the film. Of course the part everyone is waiting for is the grand entrance of that loveably wacky Poltergeist Beetlegeuse, and what a grand entrance it is. The film continually teases the viewer with pop-up appearances by the ghoul until he finally enters the film as one of the key players, and once he is introduced, well, that's when the real fun begins.
Beetlejuice (For all those who haven't seen the film) is a fast talking, loud mouthed, crazy, wild west type poltergeist that bills himself as the afterlife's most famous bio-ecorcist. His specialty?? Ridding homes of the living. He bursts forth onto the screen in all his uncontrolled ADHD-type glory. He is a sight to be seen and remains one of the most unforgettable screen antagonists ever dreamed up. In Beetlejuice he steals the spotlight in every single scene he appears in and acts as the films's more-or-less villain...even though the V word is a little too harsh in my opinion. He's a prankster that likes to mess stuff up and doesn't care about what the consequences of his actions are. Does this make him a villain??? Kinda...but not totally.
The film is chock-full of memorable scenes such as Beetlegeuse's main entrance, a hilarious dinner scene set to the tune of Day-O, and the Grand finale in which Beetlegeuse is called upon to save the day and then some. While most of the film is somewhat slow, all is made up for by the prescence of Keaton as his most memorable role to date (screw Batman). If you're in the mood for some knee-slapping fun and all out hilarity then feel free to slip this one into your DVD player. A good time is just about guaranteed.
3/5 stars
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