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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’s biggest error is how it treats Jeffrey Jones’s character

BBG News

As a long-time fan of Tim Burton’s quirky and imaginative films, I must say that the return to the world of Beetlejuice was both exciting and unsettling for me. The nostalgia of revisiting this peculiar town and its eccentric characters was palpable, but the presence of Jeffrey Jones, who played Charles Deetz in the original film, left a somewhat bitter aftertaste.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice spoilers follow.

Though he isn’t officially listed among the main actors, Jeffrey Jones plays a significant role in the movie “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice“, appearing frequently throughout.

Back in 1988, I stepped into the shoes of Charles Deetz in the unique world of Beetlejuice, directed by the one and only Tim Burton. In this film, I was the dad to Lydia, played by Winona Ryder, and was married to Delia, portrayed by Catherine O’Hara. It was a spooky yet fun adventure that I will always remember!

In the recently released follow-up, we find the story starting with Charles’ demise, as his loved ones journey to Wind River to lay him to rest. Since this film takes place partially in a realm often referred to as the Neitherworld, it’s possible that even though Charles has died, he might still make an appearance in the movie.

And he is. But Jeffrey Jones isn’t… sort of.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice's biggest error is how it treats Jeffrey Jones's character

In the film, the character reappears in a stop-motion scene depicting an incident where Charles’ plane crashes into the sea and gets devoured by a shark. Noticeably, the puppet of this character bears a striking resemblance to Jeffrey Jones.

In the winter, Lydia, Astrid, and Delia visit Charles’ burial site at Winter River’s cemetery. As previously shown in a promo clip, the glass headstone features a likeness of Jones. Later within the film, Delia records herself performing a creative act near her husband’s grave, where the image of Jones remains visible.

In the movie’s finale, I encounter a ghostly figure lacking his upper body, someone I later came to know as Charles. Throughout the film, he was a recurring presence in this spectral realm known as Neitherworld, and when he bumped into Delia – another soul lost to a venomous snakebite – she immediately recognized him.

Finally reunited in the afterlife, the couple take a train to the Great Beyond.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice's biggest error is how it treats Jeffrey Jones's character

Despite neither mentioning nor referring to Jeffrey Jones by name throughout the promotional campaign, it’s clear that his character plays a significant visual and narrative role within the film’s plot.

For individuals not familiar with Jones’ past issues, it’s important to note that in the year 2002, he was detained under suspicion of owning child pornography and employing a 14-year-old boy to take off his clothes for photographs.

In Entertainment Weekly’s report, it was stated that Jones admitted to no wrongdoing but accepted the consequences for soliciting a minor. This led to a five-year probation and his name being added to a sex offender registry, which requires him to be listed as such.

The possession charge, to which he pleaded not guilty, was dropped.

At one point, it was stated by Jones’ lawyer that the actor had not been charged with inappropriately touching or making any form of physical contact with minors at all. The situation pertained to photographs, as reported by NBC Los Angeles.

Afterwards, the actor got apprehended due to not keeping his sex offender status updated; initially in Florida back in 2004, and again in California in 2010.

In 2010, Jones admitted guilt in California and received a sentence that included 250 hours of community service and an additional three years of probation. This was reported by TMZ at the time.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice's biggest error is how it treats Jeffrey Jones's character

Following his memorable roles in classic ’80s films such as “Amadeus” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, along with other movies directed by Tim Burton after “Beetlejuice”, like “Ed Wood” and “Sleepy Hollow”, Jones largely stepped away from the film industry.

On television, he portrayed AW Merrick in HBO’s western series “Deadwood” from 2004 to 2006. He returned to the character in 2019 for the movie version of “Deadwood”.

In March 2024, when the initial trailer for “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” premiered, it was officially clarified by a representative that Michael Jones would not be featured in the film (as reported by The Hollywood Reporter), thereby putting an end to fan theories.

Nevertheless, as previously mentioned, although Jeffrey Jones may not have been directly involved in the film production, his influence can be felt throughout it.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice's biggest error is how it treats Jeffrey Jones's character

It’s quite odd that they chose to keep Jones in the story considering how simple it would be to exclude him entirely. Leaving out his photograph on the tombstone, not revealing the details of his death, and having Delia go through her solo journey towards death without mentioning Jones could have been an option.

In simpler terms, this scene could have been avoided as it was likely unintended but still uncomfortable, featuring a group of children singing near his photo, echoing the memorable “Day-O” song from the original Beetlejuice movie. The imagery in the sequel of this moment isn’t particularly positive.

The character Beetlejuice, who was once so lively, finds himself stuck with the consequences of his own actions – a rather unfortunate turn of events for him. However, one might ponder if this misfortune on the film could have been prevented somehow.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is now out in cinemas.

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2024-09-06 15:19

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