A rather unique and funny look at the afterlife...

Rating: 8/10 (21 March 2007)

This movie is a rather differing look on what the afterlife might be like, and I have to say it isn't pretty. Our couple drowns and struggles to adjust to being dead, however, they seem to refuse to read the book that explains just how to go about it. If being dead were not bad enough, they have some new home owners moving into the house where they must spend the first years of their afterlife and they are not a very good match with our deceased couple. What are they to do...well there seems to be a solution, a ghost named Beetle Juice who advertises himself as a type of reverse exorcist. This of course sets up some really funny scenes. This movie I do believe is effective because its somewhat limited use of the funniest character, Beetle Juice...this just makes his scenes even more funny and over the top. Not that it is bad when he is not in it, it still has some funny stuff such as the dinner scene and the waiting room scene. Still, when Beetle Juice is in it, the comedy ramps up a couple of notches. All the cast do a rather good job, of course Keaton kind of steals the show. This movie is kind of dark, however it works as Tim Burton always can create a good dark atmosphere so if you want to see a rather humorous take on the afterlife this is the movie for you.