The Addams Family (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'The Addams Family' (based on the popular 1960's TV series & directed by Barry Sonnenfeld) opens fantastically with the ghoulish Addamses pouring hot oil on a group of merry Christmas carolers. After a series of vignettes which establish the characters of Gomez (Raul Julia), Morticia (Anjelica Huston), Wednesday (Christina Ricci), Pugsley (Jimmy Workman), + family servants Lurch (Carel Struycken) & Thing (Christopher Hart) ... the main plot begins. A stranger, played by Back to the Future's Christopher Lloyd, shows up on the Addamses front step, claiming to be long-lost Uncle Fester.
He's been missing for some 25 years & Gomez has been bereft the whole time. It 'appears', however, that Lloyd is a phony, and in cahoots with both his own scheming mother (Elizabeth Wilson) & attorney Tully Alford (Dan Hedaya) to take the Addamses fortune. Wednesday has some doubts as to the sincerity/veracity of new Uncle Fester. And in their strange, oxymoronic, & grand fashion, The Addams Family delights in the possibility of being fooled. They love life. They love the possibility of death. Nothing throws them off course. So Tully & Co.'s plans to take the Addamses fortune will surely be put to the test -- a deadly test.
I had a blast watching 'The Addams Family'; smiling & chuckling all the way. Granted, the story doesn't really matter or add up to much - just character, humor & mood. And there's a repetitive nature to the proceedings that brings the quality down. But the positives far outweigh any negatives. I love the 'dark comedy' in the script. The Addamses are cooky, deliciously fun-evil. The cast is a riot. Raul Julia oozes charisma as the egotistical Gomez. Anjelica Huston nails the deadpan Morticia. She's unfazed by anything. And Christina Ricci provides a star-making turn as the vicious little Wednesday. Don't try to put anything past her {haha}.
On the technical front, 'TAF' is solid, as well. I enjoyed the offbeat camera choices provided by the cinematographer. The Addams home is a marvel of macabre art direction; ditto the costumes, hair, & make-up. I loved the organ-infused musical score. And some subtle special effects are made to good use, as well (Thing's hand, etc.). Overall, I just loved this twisted treat of a movie. And I think this film (& possible sequels) will be remembered for years to come.
He's been missing for some 25 years & Gomez has been bereft the whole time. It 'appears', however, that Lloyd is a phony, and in cahoots with both his own scheming mother (Elizabeth Wilson) & attorney Tully Alford (Dan Hedaya) to take the Addamses fortune. Wednesday has some doubts as to the sincerity/veracity of new Uncle Fester. And in their strange, oxymoronic, & grand fashion, The Addams Family delights in the possibility of being fooled. They love life. They love the possibility of death. Nothing throws them off course. So Tully & Co.'s plans to take the Addamses fortune will surely be put to the test -- a deadly test.
I had a blast watching 'The Addams Family'; smiling & chuckling all the way. Granted, the story doesn't really matter or add up to much - just character, humor & mood. And there's a repetitive nature to the proceedings that brings the quality down. But the positives far outweigh any negatives. I love the 'dark comedy' in the script. The Addamses are cooky, deliciously fun-evil. The cast is a riot. Raul Julia oozes charisma as the egotistical Gomez. Anjelica Huston nails the deadpan Morticia. She's unfazed by anything. And Christina Ricci provides a star-making turn as the vicious little Wednesday. Don't try to put anything past her {haha}.
On the technical front, 'TAF' is solid, as well. I enjoyed the offbeat camera choices provided by the cinematographer. The Addams home is a marvel of macabre art direction; ditto the costumes, hair, & make-up. I loved the organ-infused musical score. And some subtle special effects are made to good use, as well (Thing's hand, etc.). Overall, I just loved this twisted treat of a movie. And I think this film (& possible sequels) will be remembered for years to come.