Daniel Dickinson, Author, Adventurer

I’m pretty sure I mentioned in my last movie review, that I’d not mention the whole estranged child trope plaguing Hollywood. Beetlejuice/Beetlejuice however, has something to say about this overused cliché. So, let’s dig our grave. Did it work this time? Surprisingly, yes.

The movie starts with that all important Danny Elfmen Beetlejuice theme, mixed with modern beats. The same, over the town of Winter River flyby as the first one, this time at night, with of course, a few new additions and changes.

From there, we get an update to what happened to Lydia Deetz, now the star of her very own ghost show. During the show, she has an encounter with Beetlejuice, and from there, we’re introduced to a new character, Lydia’s sleazy boyfriend, who, has a very enjoyable downfall later. Who says the Beetlejuice is true evil? Let’s get back on track though, after that, we’re told Jeffrey Jones character, Charles, is killed off screen. He didn’t return, likely due to off screen legal issues. So, he had no part in this movie. Also missing are the Maitlands, who “moved on”, which in my opinion, is for the best. Although, it would have been nice to see a ghostly version of their younger selves as a cameo. Still, removing them was probably for the best. Their story is over, this new story in Beetlejuice/Beetlejuice is for all intense and purpose, is Lydia and Astrid’s story.

Let’s address the whole child estrangement cliche I mentioned at the start of this review. Lydia can see ghosts around her, but when you learn her husband was killed in South America, she confesses she cant see him. Astrid tells her she’s a crack pot, and uses not being able to see her father, as proof her “ability” to see dead people, is just fake. However, the difference here is every bit of tension between Lydia and Astrid feels warranted. You GET each one’s point of view. Astrid never seems to stray too far over the “I am better then you” line. That keeps her relatable. I have to actually hand it to the actresses, they by far, show the range of emotion needed to keep this cliché from being just that, a cliché. The father dying off screen, is also used to vindicate Lydia in Astrids eyes. So there’s character growth by both parties.

Anyway, back to the rest of the movie. When Charles dies off-screen, the Deetz are reunited at the old Maitland house along with Rory, Lydia’s now fiancée. Astrid wants nothing to do with the Deetz family and the sleazy producer boyfriend who follows her mom Lydia around. So she takes off and meets a boy who, right off the bat, seems too good to be true. Honestly, during this whole sequence, I was waiting for something bad to happen to Astrid. From then on, everything goes to hell. I won’t mention the rest of the movie, as it might be too much of a spoiler. If you loved the original Beetlejuice, then yes, you should see this.

Final thought, is it a good movie? Yes. Is worth seeing it on the big screen? Honestly, yes. It won’t be life changing, it may not even evoke much emotional reaction. But then, did the original? No. It was a good movie, with a decent plot, characters that are fun, and it just feels like a good time.

Bad Boys movie franchise is one of those things that did everything right, even when it did things wrong. While the latest movie in the franchise, Bad Boys: Ride or Die was anything but bad, I do think they should have made the title Bad Boys 4 Life. Basically, movies three and four should have flipped titles. In my opinion, it’s a missed opportunity.

Now that we got one of biggest errors and grievances from the latest movie out of the way, lets dive into what it did right. Which is pretty much everything else.

The movie starts off with a wedding between Mike (Will Smith) and… Christine (Melanie Liburd). An off-screen romance apparently developed between the two characters after the third movie. Luckly, it gets better after that confusion is over, when Marcus (Martin Lawrence) has a heart attack in middle of the reception. This kicks off a hilarious thread throughout the movie between Mike and Marcus. While the movie pokes fun at the actors real-world problems, it isn’t in your face, and they once again riff off each other. The chemistry between the two actor’s kicks into high gear after the wedding. Bad guys trigger a message to the two main characters, that has Joe Pantoliano reprise his roll as Captain Howard. He tells the two detectives that he was investigating a smuggling ring that has deep roots in the government. Now, I’ve spoke up against tropes before when I reviewed the new Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F , here though, the tropes are well done, and work really well in service of the movie and plot. Mike and Marcus must clear their names, and only Mike’s newly discovered son, Armando (Jacob Scipio), can help.

If you read my Axel Foly review, you’ll know I’m not a fan of estranged kids and their parents. Where Axel forces a lot of dynamics that are unrealistic, here, Armando and Mike actually struggle to find common ground. They do, eventually, but its much better done. In fact, I think, it was done better then Axel F.

Let me explain: Armando did NOT even KNOW Mike existed, so he has NO reason to trust or give Mike the time of day. In the third Bad Boys movie, his eventual turn against his mother, was one of the big “Uhhhh… Why?” moments I had. There was weak motivation for his character to flip. But props to Mike, to try and make amends. Again, Armando didn’t have to accept the peace offering.

In Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Jane, KNEW her father, they at least talked, or COULD HAVE. Yet her hatred for him was excessive and unsupportive motivationally speaking. There was NO reason for the level of spite and contempt she showed Axel in the movie. So when Axel DOES offer peace, he’s rebuked. There was NO reason for that level of spite from Jane.

All that to say, Axel F movie, should have handled the kid/parent dynamic better, and maybe closer to how Mike and Armando was handled.

That’s probably not the last time I’ll bring that up. It really is a pet peeve of mine. But, I digress. Let’s get back to Bad Boys: Ride or Die.

Shenanigans occur after Mike, Armando and Marcus go on the run from everyone, Miami PD, FBI, US Marshals, and the cartels.  Captain Howard left evidence for Mike and Marcus, but everyone has to re-unite in order for them to use that evidence, but of course, the bad guys get wind of the evidence and start kidnapping, or trying to kidnap, Mike and Marcus’s family. Likely for Marcus, Reggie, yes, Reggie from the very first Bad Boy movie (Played by Dennis Greene). This was probably THE best part of the entire movie. Reggie laid waste to the bad guys trying to kidnap Threasa (Tasha Smith) and the rest of the Burnett family. The movie could of rolled credits and I would of been fine with that. The best redemption arc in a movie, period.

I think that’s where this movie excels, it treats all the previous movies with respect. There are a lot of call backs to the older films, and in my opinion, ends their legacy on a good note. Indiana Jones movies could take notes on how to use older films to pass off baton to a younger generation. IF Bad Boys movie had inserted a partnership as good as Mike and Marcus have, into the franchise, this addition would have been the perfect sendoff for the franchise.

Hands down, this movie is well worth watching. While the Bad Boys movies have issues, no movie is perfect, the entire series does what it promises, and it does it well. It doesn’t change the formula; it sticks to what works (Looking at you Axel F).