Triumph of Production Design over Script

Rating: Null/10 (16 August 2003)

Tim Burton understands the horror/goth genre, unfortunately his only addition has been the mediocre Sleepy Hollow. Beetlejuice understands the basis for our fears, but never gets far with the idea. The concept is not as well developed or exploited as it could have been.
The real star is not Michael Keaton or anyone else in the cast, it's Burton's use of traditional (stop-motion) effects, makeup, and set design. He is trying to be weird, but winds up being normal. Without any sort of depth, the mood is humorous instead of deep. Playing everything for gags in the afterlife more resembles Back to the Future Part II than anything else.
With weak performances, this movie can't help but suffer under its own ambition much like the rest of Burton's work. He always starts strong, then fails at the end except with Planet of the Apes where he failed at the outset.
Overall, not as good as it could have been. Kid's might get a kick out of it, but those looking for a film that understands the genre should try Poltergeist instead. Satire is more obvious there. 2.5 out of 5 stars.