Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is less with more. This disjointed story fails to develop anything specific. Its family drama, supernatural elements, romance, (pointless) revenge subplot, and excessive characters are cramped into broad strokes. Had the script focused on the mother/daughter dynamic, heart could've been earned. This bleeds into the acting, which (despite its talent) is roundly stifled. Meanwhile, the turning points feel forced, never achieving tension or triumph. Motivations are often idle, only sputtering into motion in the 2nd half. There's middling humor, unclear rules, and an unsatisfying ending. Thus, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a hodgepodge of undercooked tack-ons.
Technically, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has manic style. The flashy cinematography is overdone at times. Its editing lurches momentum and omits resolution. Along with smash cuts, the sound provides all the genre elements. Although slightly unrestrained, its music adds famous themes, suitable needle drops, and playful diegetics. The production design has (overcommitted) iconography plus trippy world-building, but the colors become desensitizing after a while. Mixing newcomers with returners, its cast is deep with fitting star power. The effects are abundant, mostly tangible, and aesthetic. Ultimately, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice lacks the intentionality to fulfill its potential.
Writing: 3/10
Direction: 6/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Acting: 7/10
Editing: 4/10
Sound: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 8/10
Production Design: 8/10
Casting: 9/10
Effects: 9/10
Overall Score: 6.9/10
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