Good, but certain elements prevent it from being great

Rating: 7/10 (26 July 2007)

I first saw this movie a couple years ago when it came on TV on Halloween. I had recently seen some reruns of "Beetlejuice", the cartoon series loosely based on this live action movie, after not seeing any of it in over a decade (since the early 1990s, when I was probably six or seven), but didn't really like it anymore. However, I WAS impressed with this movie when I first saw it. I even found it more enjoyable during later viewings, and liked it a lot! After not seeing it for a while, I just watched it again last night, but wasn't nearly as impressed with it as I was before.
Barbara and Adam Maitland are a married couple who live in a large house in a rural New England town. One day, on their way home, just as they are about to cross a bridge, they see a dog in front of them, and quickly try to stop. They don't run over the dog, but they do fall off the bridge in their car and crash into the river! They quickly arrive back home, thinking they survived the accident, but soon learn that they are dead, and if they try to leave the house, they will find themselves in a dangerous place! It gets worse when an annoying family moves in, and the Maitlands are stuck with them! The recently deceased couple attempt to scare this family out of the house, but cannot seem to succeed. Is giving in and using a fellow ghost named Beetlejuice the answer, despite warnings?!
Some say that this movie gets better with more than one viewing, and a while ago, after watching it several times, I could see what they meant. However, after my most recent viewing, I can't imagine ever enjoying it as much as I used to again. I still found some parts funny, but found that most of the funny parts involve Beetlejuice, and he certainly doesn't have the biggest part in the movie. Michael Keaton's performance (as Beetlejuice) is the only one that really stands out, the other performances are really nothing special. The movie is exciting in some parts, but also a bit dull in others. Fortunately, the good in this movie does outweigh the bad to some extent.
"Beetle Juice" is a very imaginative motion picture, but that doesn't automatically make it a masterpiece. Tim Burton is a director with unique vision, and many strongly admire him, while some think he's a terrible filmmaker. Personally, I am a fan, but this is not one of my favourites of his. If you don't like Burton's films in general, I don't think this particular film would be any exception, so if you haven't already seen it, I don't suggest you ever do. On the other hand, if you are a fan of the director, and like movies that combine the comedy and horror genres, you would probably like "Beetle Juice". You could even like it better with more than one viewing, though this MIGHT not be permanent.