The 1990s was a resounding welcome for Charles’ Addams Addams Family adaptation. While there was a small resurgence with the franchise during the 1970s with the animated cartoon of 1973 and the special Halloween with the New Addams Family (1977), the 1990s was where it took off. With the strong push for advertising, The Addams Family (1991) got all kinds of merchandise made after the movie like toys, video games and its own animated spinoff. Then came the sequel Addams Family Values (1993) which went onward with the same cast. Unfortunately, with Raul Julia passing shortly after, any adaptation made after would either run the risk of continuing with a different lead or starting over entirely. For this particular entry, it’s possible that the latter was what was chosen. It’s not as good but not as awful as some say it is.
The story here is about Gomez Addams (Tim Curry) inviting his parents Grandpa Addams (Kevin McCarthy) and Grandma Addams (Estelle Harris) over one night. However, the Addams’ realize that the grandparents have forgotten their bizarre antics that the current generation finds to be normal. So in order to get them more familiar with others Gomez decides to have a family reunion. Unbeknownst to them, the reunion they’re having is with a family tree spelt Adams, with one “d”. The story was written by Rob Kerchner who would later pen Turbulence 2: Fear of Flying (1999) and Scott Sandin. Directing this feature is David Payne, someone who probably takes this feature as their best known credit and has also worked with the previously mentioned writers on a few occasions. Payne has other credits but likely not well known.
Despite this feature not being a direct sequel to the previous two films, it does standalone pretty average for better or worse. The story is definitely a nice change in focus as the last two films for some reason had very strong attention put on Uncle Fester. This time the narrative just involves the family in general. It’s fun for once to see the family interacting as a group as opposed to a select couple of characters being swindled by some antagonist who thinks they’re above the rest. Together the spooky family is introduced to Phillip Adams (Ed Begley Jr.) and Melinda Adams (Heidi Lenhart) who are looking to take their father’s fortune Walter Adams (Ray Walston). All around, the Adams family is very stuck up wants nothing to do with the kooky Addams family. The aspect that doesn’t work with the story is the acting.
Normally the Addams family are the ones who are eccentric and look crazy to everyone else. But for some reason the Adams family members are the ones who are over the top and chewing up the scenery around them. There’s Dolores Adams (Diane Delano) who has a movement and expression for every situation which feels like too much is going on. Meanwhile the Addams family actors look expressionless by comparison. Unfortunately, while Tim Curry is an excellent actor he’s not the best choice for Gomez Addams since his voice is so iconic. Daryl Hannah as Morticia doesn’t have the same charisma as the previous actresses before her even if she ended up playing in both Kill Bill films. Apparently the only actors to return from the last two films were Carel Struycken as Lurch and Christopher Hart as Thing.
Jerry Messing as Pugsley and Patrick Thomas as the new Uncle Fester didn’t go on to do much after this either. As for Nicole Fugere, she plays the new Wednesday but would only go on to continue her role in the spinoff show and end there. Visually speaking even for a TV movie sequel the effects aren’t that bad. Thing as a severed hand still blends in pretty well and the practical creature effects look fine. The camerawork though could’ve been better with Christian Sebaldt taking credit. There’s a lot of close up wide angle shots which become obnoxious. The music however was okay despite not getting any kind of release. Scored by Amotz Plessner, the sound of the movie sounds similar in style to that of Marc Shaiman’s score to the previous two films.
This is probably the least appreciated Addams Family movie but it’s not awful. The acting is somewhat reversed between main and supporting characters and the cinematography isn’t the best. However, the story is different, effects aren’t bad and the music sounds appropriate for the franchise.