Options for the weekend on Prime Video: the new ‘Beetlejuice’, a thriller and a comedy from the 80s
The constant search for elements that refer to the past has marked entertainment culture, and this trend is clearly reflected in the most recent additions to the Prime Video platform for this month of June. The film selections for the period between June 12th and 14th offer an immersion in works that are inspired by past eras, guaranteeing moments of fun.
In the list of recommended programming, one of the highlights is the long-awaited “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, the sequel to Tim Burton’s classic, again starring Michael Keaton. The film promises to rekindle the magic of the original universe.
In addition, the public can check out “Dragonfly”, an engaging supernatural thriller that, although little explored, features performances by Kevin Costner, known for his role in “Yellowstone”, and Kathy Bates, from “Matlock”.
For lovers of the 80s, the final suggestion is a cinematic journey back to that golden era, when Michael J. Fox was consolidating his career and Hollywood was still producing highly successful comedies like “The Secret of My Success”.
The return of the bioexorcist in ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ (2024)
It’s undeniable that certain characters never go out of style, especially when there’s an opportunity to explore the nostalgia they generate. Tim Burton’s original work, “Beetlejuice”, from 1988, starring Michael Keaton as the iconic “Most Fantastic Ghost”, has stood the test of time. A long-awaited sequel, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” hits theaters in 2024, receiving widespread attention but mixed critical reception. Although it may not achieve the impact of the original film, the new production offers clever jokes and quirky visual effects that make it an experience worth checking out.
In the plot, Lydia Deetz (played again by Winona Ryder), the central figure of the teenage version of the original film, is now an adult and mother of Astrid (Jenna Ortega), a young woman with a rebellious spirit. After returning to Lydia’s family home in Connecticut, mother and daughter find themselves faced with a situation that requires the intervention of a single person: Beetlejuice (Keaton). Astrid is taken by a wandering spirit, and Lydia needs Beetlejuice’s help to rescue her daughter. The question is whether she can truly trust someone who, in the past, tried to harm her parents and force her into marriage.
The film “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is available for streaming on Prime Video.
Mystery and afterlife in ‘Dragonfly’ (2002)
Although Kevin Costner is widely recognized for his roles in contemporary Western dramas such as “Yellowstone” and “Horizon: An American Saga,” his career includes forays into a variety of genres, including supernatural thrillers. In the intriguing “Dragonfly,” Costner takes on the role of Joe Darrow, a Chicago doctor who faces the tragic loss of his pregnant wife, Emily (Susanna Thompson), in a bus accident in Venezuela. Immersed in his work to avoid the pain of grief, Joe begins to believe that Emily’s spirit manifested through a patient who had been clinically pronounced dead. The plot raises the question of whether Joe is losing his sanity or whether Emily really seeks contact from the world of the dead.
At first glance, the plot of “Dragonfly” may seem peculiar, and when you watch it, the eccentricity becomes more pronounced. However, it is precisely this characteristic that gives the film its charm, with a complete commitment to the supernatural premise and an approach to the afterlife that is reminiscent of the classic “Ghost: On the Other Side of Life”. Costner gives a convincing performance as a scientist who slowly opens up to spiritual belief. Kathy Bates makes a striking appearance, adding a touch of irreverence to her pragmatic and straightforward character, Joe’s neighbor. She expresses skepticism about Joe’s claims, but demonstrates enough compassion not to suggest that the doctor be admitted.
“Dragonfly” can be watched on Prime Video.
The corporate comedy of ‘The Secret of My Success’ (1987)
What would be the method for success for Brantley Foster (Michael J. Fox), an ambitious young man? It’s definitely not the capital, since he comes from a deprived city in Kansas, nor his academic background. His main tool is cunning: he gets a job as a messenger in a large corporation and, simultaneously, poses as a high-ranking executive to get closer to the elite. However, Brantley’s risky strategy is threatened when he falls in love with a co-worker, Christy Wills (Helen Slater), who is having an extramarital relationship with the company president, Howard (Richard Jordan), who happens to be his estranged uncle. Brantley’s quick success could lead to major long-term complications, threatening his future and his possible stay at Kansas.
Considered a sophisticated comedy about professional advancement in the corporate environment, “The Secret of My Success” masterfully represents the spirit of its time. Released in the same year as Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street,” the film takes the “greed is good” philosophy and applies it to a comedy that relies on misunderstandings and mistaken identities. Surprisingly, this combination works, resulting in a film that reflects its protagonist: unpretentious, harmless and utterly captivating. Michael J. Fox creates in Brantley a hero with whom the audience can identify, even if his desire to become a wealthy executive with a large bank account may be seen differently by contemporary audiences, offering an interesting perspective on the ambitions of that era in contrast to today’s values.
“The Secret of My Success” is available to watch on Prime Video.
