140 Character Movie Review – #140RVW
Wonderful realization of Charles Addams characters with near perfect casting in Sonnenfeld’s directorial debut. Creepy. Kooky. Spooky. Ooky.
Spoiler-free Movie Review of The Addams Family:
My dad had this old book of Charles Addams’ illustrations. As I recall, the book looked like a third-hand copy from someone who possibly had three hands, all of them clumsy. It was tattered, with a damaged binding and smelled old. To this day I don’t know if it was actually supposed to be like this or was just a poorly cared for yard sale prize. Either would be fitting, because The Addams Family has always felt like some bizarre foundling, while simultaneously being the product of the well-established studio system.
Addams, a cartoonist (often for The New Yorker), based his most famous creations on the old mansions in his childhood home of Westfield, New Jersey and that such a morbid bunch of cartoons should become so popular is a testament to his unique talent. I may never fully understand why television executives thought “hey, this would make a great family tv show”, but I’m glad they did.
In fact, not only did the characters make for a tv show, they made for several, including an animated series, guest appearances on shows as subversive as Scooby-Doo and The Flintstones, as well as having a comeback or two. I guess with that track record that a feature film was inevitable and not as odd as it would be if you pitched the idea today. I strongly doubt that even Tim Burton (originally tapped to direct this film) could walk into a major studio with an idea about a gruesome & possibly supernatural family of arguable sadists and leave with a contract.
Fortunately, in the late 1980’s producer Scott Rudin was able to get a greenlight for The Addams Family from Orion Pictures based on the show’s lasting appeal. Paramount would end up releasing the picture due to Orion’s money problems, but it’s unclear exactly who is to blame for the inclusion of music by MC Hammer…
I wasn’t able to find out why Burton ended up not directing (Batman Returns conflict? Just a guess.) but it left the door open for the incredibly talented cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld, who made his directorial debut here. His work with filmmakers like the Coen brothers surely provided the experience in making a quirky and dark comedy, but he really takes embraces it here with a fun-loving style that would go on to serve him well in films like Get Shorty & Men In Black. Sonnenfeld was an outstanding DP and even retained that role (if not the title) on The Addams Family when his first two cinematographers left the project. It shows – the irreverent camera work is one of the best features of the film.
Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands) & Larry Wilson (Beetlejuice) put together a nice script that preserves the spirit of the show and the cartoons. It really is surprisingly faithful. Enough so that there was a bit of a problem with rights, as the filmmakers had obtained clearances from the Addams estate but not the show directly; the show’s executive producer, David Levy sued for compensation for his ideas from the tv program.
The casting is one of those perfect ensembles that you’re lucky to get once in a blue moon. Raul Julia inhabits Gomez Addams with all the humor that tv actor John Astin once displayed, but with twice the passion. Anjelica Huston absolutely is Morticia, and Christopher Lloyd energetically portrays Uncle Fester. And of course, young Christina Ricci makes Wednesday the most enjoyable character of all.
The plot is fairly good, as far as it goes, providing the characters with something to do while getting on with the real business of being creepy, kooky, mysterious & spooky. Recommended…
Poster:
Trailer:
Bechdel Test:
Pass
The Representation Test Score: C (6 pts)
(http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/)
| Main Cast | Anjelica Huston Morticia Addams, Raul Julia Gomez Addams, Christopher Lloyd Uncle Fester Addams/Gordon Craven, Dan Hedaya Tully Alford |
| Rating | PG-13 |
| Release Date | Fri 22 Nov 1991 UTC |
| Director | Barry Sonnenfeld |
| Genres | Comedy, Fantasy |
| Plot | Con artists plan to fleece the eccentric family using an accomplice who claims to be their long lost Uncle Fester. |
| Poster |  |
| Runtime | 99 |
| Tagline | It’s not the same old Thing. |
| Writers | Charles Addams (characters), Caroline Thompson (written by) … |
| Year | 1991 |
