ironhorse_iv Review of The Addams Family

The Addams Family (1991)

I'm dead serious. This movie was not quite worth dancing the Mamushka for.

[6/10 · 21 December 2020]

Oh snap! You're probably asking yourself why. Well, it's because the film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld doesn't really hold that much value to me. The 1993 sequel told the same gold-digging plot of a woman trying to manipulate Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd) a lot better. While also giving more screen time to the other family members; especially the star making performance from Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams who was given some of the best snarking deadpan morbid jokes from the series. I love her smarts jabs toward consumerism, the media, the mistreatment of Native Americans and others from the sequel. It sucks that Wednesday in the original isn't as clever as she later becomes. After all her running away to the graveyard rather than fighting back or telling her parents about the villains seem out of character. There were other ways the filmmakers could had used to get the Addams Family out of the house. Still, she far more interesting than the forgettable Pugsy character played by Jimmy Workman that always seem underwritten. As for Angelica Huston as Morticia & Raul Julia as Gomez Addams. They indeed capture the creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky, they're all together ooky, the Addams Family vibe. Often with discomfort toward their eyes due to the heavy makeup. They really went all for their craft. Yet once again the sequel captured their character's love affair so much better with scenes like the tango dance. Although seeing the Mamushka sequence in this film was pretty awesome even if the stunt performers are pretty obvious seen throwing the knives around. I just didn't like how the filmmakers made Fester the straight man for most of the movie. It goes against everything that we know of the character from the comic strip by cartoonist Charles Addams and the 1960s tv show of the same title. It's hurt the overall macabre comedic approach of what made Fester popular in the first place. After all we barely go to see the strange ability that the character has on generating electricity. Another thing that I hate about the Gordon subplot is how it was resolved. The whole out of nowhere Amnesia excuse was really forced during the last few minutes of the movie. Regardless of that, Lloyd was alright as Fester. Yet I felt that the actor was much better used in the sequel. He really did capture the character's mannerisms well there. Still, I'm glad that he channeled his own voice for Fester rather than copying the annoying pitch from the 1960s television show. As for actress Elizabeth Wilson. She was wonderful as Gordon's ever so controlling mother Abigail Craven. The way she speaks reminds me of a mixer of all the actresses that voice Mrs. Bates from the 1960s horror film 'Psycho'. It's wicked wonderful. Actor Dan Hedaya was also fine as Gomez's lawyer Tully Alford but I kinda mistook him for Darrin McGavin. I also dig the cameos of Sally Jesse Raphel as herself and Mercedes McNab as some random Girl Scout who later become a bigger role in the sequel as Amanda Buckman. Their interaction with the Addams Family was really funny. As of humor. The second movie mostly works for that. Don't get me wrong there were some jokes from that film that fell flat for me like the off-putting murder attempts of a young infant. While similar dark humor is hilarious here in the original like Wednesday trying to fry her brother in an electric chair. Humor is subjective, but if I had to count how many people laugh at the sequel Thanksgiving play over the first flick bloody school show. It's leans more to the latter. Regardless this movie has more fantastic scenery sets, make up and some wonderful special effects. Most of the scenes involving Thing Addams still somewhat works. Magician and puppeteer Christopher Hart really do a good performance in the hand motion and gestures. A good example of that him trying to tell Gomez that Morticia is in danger. Yet there was a lot of visuals that might not be suitable for children even with the PG-13 warning. It really depends on the parents. As for the music. The theme song is ever so catchy. As for 'The Addams Grove' rap from McHammer, that never did make me want to jam. Overall: While this comedy is still watchable. It's probably better to let this movie rest in peace. Check out the sequel instead. Now that's a film that worth haunting.