Tim Burton’s 36-years-later follow up to the beloved horror/comedy classic Beetlejuice makes for a fabulously fun legacy sequel with lots of new tricks up its sleeve – maybe too many. For starters, the nostalgia is through the roof. Everything from the kooky visual splendor to Danny Elfman’s musical cues are guaranteed to make fans giddy in their cinema seats. And, with Burton using creative practical effects instead of overdone CGI, the film’s charm remains spot on. But, while fan service is served by the mouthful, there’s lots of fresh additions given to the familiar spooky stew – namely Jenna Ortega. As the teenage daughter to Winona Ryder’s Lydia, Ortega is a natural in the role, fitting right in with the requisite angst to spare. And no, she’s not just doing her “Wednesday Addams” portrayal here, it’s an equally nuanced depiction that genuinely stands on its own. And while Monica Bellucci and Justin Theroux make for other entertaining add-ons, it’s the returning cast that truly shines. Ryder and Catherine O’Hara are rightly given lots to do here, and thus, are provided ample time to do their thing (O’Hara’s “thing” is always hysterical btw). And then there’s our titular trickster – the ghost with the most: Beetlejuice. What can I say, Michael Keaton does not miss a beat. He is just as deranged, silly, crude, and utterly unflappable as he was in the role back in 1988. It’s actually a pleasure to watch the seasoned actor go to town in the now iconic part once more. And just like the first film, Beetlejuice is only given a small portion of the screen time. But boy oh boy does he steal every scene he’s in. Where the movie falters, however, is in the bloated plot. With too many side stories and needless characters (I could have gone without Willem Dafoe’s afterlife copper), things get convoluted at times. Yes, they all converge at the end with much sense added to the themes of family and loss, but there’s a point near the middle of the film where you’ll likely be asking yourself, “what is the point of this?” Luckily, that thought is fleeting, as it doesn’t take long to get immersed right back into the wonderfully weird world of Burton and his crew have created. Yes, the Juice is loose once again, and it’s good to have him back!