BEETLEJUICE
A film review by Jim Freund
Copyright 1988 Jim Freund
BEETLEJUICE is a surprisingly enjoyable flick. The story (somewhat reminiscent of Thorne Smith's writing) follows a recently deceased young married couple (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) who haven't been dead long enough to properly follow their "Manual for the Recently Deceased." They may not leave their house for fear of the netherworld they find outside, complete with Arrakis-like sandworms. Ere long, an obnoxious (living) couple (well-played by Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O'Hara) move in, and immediately begin to wreak havoc with the afterlives of our protagonists. They also have a teenage daughter (Winona Ryder) who is straight out of Charles Addams' cartoons. Due to her morbidity, she may communicate with the ghosts, who otherwise have trouble making themselves seen or heard. Consulting their manual, the couple seek help on their situation by going to a case worker at Spirit Central for advice. All suicides become bureaucrats (love it!), and they find little relief after waiting in line for two months. However, they have seen ads for a "bio-exorcist" (he exorcises the living) named Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton), whom the case worker has warned them about. He is a ne'er-do-well, and only adds to their problems. Now they must rid themselves of him as well as resolve their situation with the living family and their spiritualist friends.
The film is fast-paced and genuinely funny. Much better than I'd expected. It does slow down near the end, and it is also evident that some important plot-telling moments were edited out of the finale in an attempt to pick it up. I have also heard that there were other post-production changes, including the original premise that every time the couple leaves their house, the Netherworld is different. Apparently some found this too confusing, and the producers dumbed it up. I'd have preferred it left alone.
The performances overall work, but are not extraordinary. Robert Goulet (who has a minor part) must have an aging portrait hidden away--he looks younger here than he did in Atlantic City. Michael Keaton carries himself adequately (a la original Saturday Night Live) in his only good role since MR. MOM.
BEETLEJUICE was credibly directed by Tim Burton (Pee-Wee's Big Adventure). The score is by Danny Elfman, and is a cross between Danse Macabre and his work with Oingo Boingo. I enjoy his work more and each each time I come across it. Four classics by Harry Belafonte are featured, including a *funny* sequence in which some dinner guests (Dick Cavett among them) become possessed, and find themselves singing and dancing to "Day-O". The art direction makes this film worth seeing on a large screen, (the sound is noteworthy as well,) and the upscale special effects are very good (though there are minor flaws).
The film is rated PG which indicates that there is no on-screen splatter or blood, but I would not advise taking a young child. There are a few scary moments, and a lot of disembodied and mutilated characters. (Such as the case worker who puffs on a cigarette--and the smoke comes out her throat.) While they are not gross, a youngster would be likely to get genuinely frightened. This should have gotten a PG-13. Nevertheless, I definitely recommend this one.
Jim Freund Big Electric Cat Public UNIX ..!cmcl2!phri!dasys1!jfreund
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