THE ADDAMS FAMILY
US, 2019, 97 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloe Grace Moretz, Finn Wlofhard, Nick Kroll, Snoop Dog, Bette Midler, Alison Janney, Martin Short, Catherine O' Hara, Jennifer Lewis.
Directed by Greg Tiernan, Conrad Vernon.
If we thought that the Addams Family had had their day, this entertaining variation on the family will make us think again.
While the original television show was highly stylised, looking like an life-action cartoon, this version is lively animation. And, it has a strong role call of talented actors supplying the voices – who would ever have thought of Charlize Theron as steely commanding Morticia Addams? Oscar Isaac is Gomez and Chloe Grace Moretz voices Wednesday.
Many audiences will still be remembering the feature films with Raoul Julia, Angelica Huston and Cristina Ritchie. And they were enjoyable too.
The opening goes into a bit of back history, the wedding between Gomez and Morticia interrupted by hostile townspeople who cause them to flee. They knock over Lurch who takes them up to the mountaintop asylum – which becomes Home Sweet Home.
As so often, it is Wednesday who causes the problems, going to school, making friends with a young student (whose overwhelming-looking and sounding mother, voiced by Alison Janney, leads the hostile citizens against the Addams Family). Wednesday, always in black, starts to experiment with colour, much to Morticia’s horror. But, in these multicultural times, Wednesday is able to bring some rapport between the Addams and the local townspeople. And, of all things comic, the dominating mother takes a shine to Uncle Fester.
The main characters are all here, Harridan grandma (Bette Midler) arriving to take over, especially for Pugsey’s mazurka ritual. And, Lurch has the opportunity to play quite a number of excerpts from familiar songs, some parodies on horror themes, and, of course introducing the finger snapping theme song.
Mixed reactions to this film – one comment saying it is particularly unfunny, the next, congratulating filmmakers for making such a funny film. It is over to us. This reviewer offers a pleasant thumbs up.
1. The popularity of the original television show, the feature films? The TV show like live-action cartoons? This film in that tradition?
2. The family, the living dead, the ironies and their being considered as monsters?
3. The plots, exaggerations, the characters, satire, humour?
4. The style of animation, the look of the characters, from the television series? Appearances, voices and a strong talent, the musical score, the range of songs? The theme song and the clicking?
5. The opening, the wedding, Gomez and Morticia, the attack of the townspeople, the fleeing, persecuted?
6. On the Road, knocking down Lurch? The asylum on the hill? Going there, transforming the asylum, their home?
7. The range of the members of the family, Gomez short, smiling, Hispanic? Devoted father? Morticia, thin and haughty, superior and commanding? Uncle Fester, the comedy, the bath and Pugsley is tricks? Pugsley, the boy, his coming-of-age? Grandma, harsh, taking over? Loach and the music? It and his hair? Arriving, the photos?
8. Wednesday, her age, severity, in black, going to school, the friendship with Parker, the pier influence, the colour, Morticia’s reaction, her being transformed? Wednesday defying the family?
9. Parker’s mother, her appearance, bombastic, her voice, her control?
10. The transformation of the town, multi-cultural, excepting the Addams Family? Everybody sharing?
11. Parker’s mother, the change of heart, the infatuation with uncle Fester?
12. Pugsley, performance, the family gathered, his success?
13. An animation future for the Addams Family?
