MovieChat Forums > Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) Discussion > MacArthur Park song: 7.5 minutes

MacArthur Park song: 7.5 minutes

posted 2 months ago by MonStar (12890)
9 replies | jump to latest

The first song lip sync by Michael Keaton in this movie was not funny. When they later had multiple characters lip sync the 7.5 minute "MacArthur Park" song by Richard Harris, it was a case of beating a joke to death.

Saturday Night Live has failed in this way for over the last 10 years. They try to fill a 90-minute live show by beating every joke to death, prolonging every skit. When it is not funny to begin with, it just becomes painful to watch.

[–] DoctorThirteen (13920) 2 months ago

Haven't seen this movie, but I do love that song!

[–] MonStar (12890) 2 months ago

They played the Donna Summer disco version of MacArthur Park in the closing credits. Director Tim Burton said he used the whole song because he liked the crazy lyrics. The Richard Harris song was a hit, despite its long length.

The movie had fantastic visual effects, but it was not really very funny, as others observed in another thread here.

[–] DoctorThirteen (13920) 2 months ago

I remember Donna Summer's version. I liked that. Richard Harris' was obviously great. One of my favourite versions was by Andy Williams.

[–] jk90us (7136) 2 months ago

It was so bad.

No clue why Burton thought it would connect like Day O.

[–] Lord Rake (4454) 2 months ago

Very hard to watch.

[–] bistritapcv (1828) 2 months ago

What was the first?

[–] pepetoony (1744) 2 months ago

The "Soul Train" bit was also beaten to death. It was funny for 30 seconds. Then it kept going. And going. Until it was no longer funny.

[–] liscarkat (18367) a month ago

I think the philosophy is that if something's not funny, keep it up twice as long and it will become funny.

[–] Guitar King (4889) a month ago

This song must have seemed funny to Burton and his friends. Somebody needs to tell Burton that "Day-O," "Jump in the Line" and calypso music are what works for "Beetlejuice." This isn't rocket science, folks.