The Addams Family

Year of release : 1991

Run time : 1h40min

Genre : Supernatural Black Comedy

Cast : Anjelica Houston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci

The movie is based on The New Yorker comic strips created by cartoonist Charles Addams,and published between 1938 to 1988.

The comic strips have been adapted for tv, film,video games, a musical and even merchandise.

The characters didn't have names until 1962,when the mother and daughter got a doll collection,while the father and son were named in 1964 when the tv series started.

It's been 25 years since Gomez's brother,Fester,has gone missing. Gomez feels bad about it, as he thinks it was his fault,as before he left, they had a fight.

Gomez's lawyer, Tully , owes a lot of money to loan shark slash con artist Abigail Craven. Trying to buy some time,Tully notices how Craven's son looks just like Gomez's lost brother, Fester. He tells the Cravens the Addams family is very rich, and they could scam them.

Attending a seance with the Addamses, Tully and his wife, witness Fester's comeback. He comes with his mother,pardon, his 'German' doctor Greta Pinder-Schloss .

Gomez is thrilled to have Gomez back, but Morticia doesn't seem to be convinced. Wednesday seems to think he is an impostor for sure.

Gomez seems to start doubting him too,when he doesn't remember important events,like why he left,- because Gomez was jealous of Fester's success with women, and tried to woo the conjoined twins away from him!-

Gordon posing as Fester gets attached to the kids, and it seems maybe he is Fester but something might have happened to him. His mother and Tully are always there to remind him why he is in the Addams house, to steal their money.

As I watched the second movie first,many years ago, I noticed certain similarities between the two ,like they are both centered around Fester. In this one Fester, through the people who use him, throw the Addams family out,while in the second one, he moves with his wife,and bans them from ever visiting. It's always this falling out with Fester.

There's also a school bit,just like in the second one was the summer camp.

The movie was good, it kept me entertained. I love Morticia and Gomez's relationship. And I also like the unity the family has,as when they moved out of the house, they lived together in the same hotel room.

The actors were great.

The visual effects were really good for 1991.

The soundtrack was good.

 

The movie grossed 191.5 million dollars, against a budget of 30 million, being a box office hit.

The movie received mixed to positive reviews, Cinema Score audiences giving the movie a B, on an A+ to F scale.

The Horror Hall of Fame awarded the movie Best Horror Film of the Year 1991. Anjelica Houston was nominated for a Golden Globe, while the Oscars nominated the movie for Best Costume Design. It won a Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song, for MC Hammer's song "Addams groove".

The movie is for free on 10 ; 10 days free on Foxtel Now; 7 days free on MGM+, MGM+ Amazon Channel, FuboTv, Paramount+, Paramount+ Premium, Paramount+ Basic with Ads, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Philo; on Netflix with subscription; for rent / sale on Amazon, AppleTv, Fandango at Home.

Rating : Worth a watch !