The beginning of the 1990s was a fresh start for Charles Addams’ the Addams Family franchise. After lying dormant for a couple decades, Paramount Pictures managed to get the reboot released in 1991 and with a resounding approval. Even better was the fact that it put director Barry Sonnenfeld on the map as he would go on to direct the popular Men In Black franchise. Usually being considered a Tim Burton film for its gothic style, Sonnenfeld was the head of it and he was gifted the opportunity again to direct the sequel. The fact is much of this sequel is consistent with the first, which is good but also to its issues. And this is weird because the writing changed hands. Not really sure how that happened but this will be gone into shortly.
The sequel’s narrative focuses on the Addams’ trying to find a nanny, after Morticia (Anjelica Huston) becomes pregnant and gives birth to Pubert (Kristen & Kaitlyn Hooper respectively). Finally, the family lands on Debbie Jellinsky (Joan Cusack), a gold digger who finds convenient ways of getting rich without her past partners. With that said, she sets her sights on Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd) who is easily swayed by her beauty. Meanwhile, because Wednesday (Christina Ricci) and Pugsley (Jimmy Workman) can see right through Debbie as to who she is, she has them sent to day camp where other hijinks ensue. This time the script was penned by Paul Rudnick who first wrote Sister Act (1992) and the sequel Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993). Again with Sonnenfeld heading the execution.
What makes it so surprising is that both Caroline Thompson nor Larry Wilson worked on this feature, yet again there’s more focus than usual put on Uncle Fester. Is Uncle Fester this unsung character everyone enjoys more than the two main love birds? It’s bewildering that for the second time in this franchise that he’s the individual given the attention more than the others. There is a little more balance though as the rest of the cast seems to get in even screen time with each other. The comedic aspects are all there too as the rather eccentric and morbid interests of the Addams confuses basically anyone they come across. Much of this is highlighted in the scenes where Pugsley and Wednesday have to deal the camp counselors Becky Martin-Granger (Christine Baranski) and Gary Granger (Peter MacNicol) for being overly happy for annoying reasons.
While also at camp, Wednesday begins having feelings for Joel Glicker (David Krumholtz) another camper who has no interest in partaking in any of the activities. There’s also other small appearances from Nathan Lane, David Hyde Pierce, Peter Graves, and Tony Shalhoub. For the rest of the cast Carole Kane as Grandmama (replacing Judith Malina from the first) does fine. Carel Struycken as Lurch is as good as he was before, as was Christopher Hart as Thing and John Franklin as Cousin It. And of course Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia thankfully return to have the same energy and charisma as the last film too. As for Joan Cusack, she’s definitely good at portraying herself as a scheming no do-gooder. It’s interesting how she would go on to become the voice of Jessie from Pixar’s Toy Story franchise.
Visually speaking the cinematography which was handled by Owen Roizman in the first is now credited to Donald Peterman. Very masterfully, Peterman kept the look that Roizman shot with just as well as if hands had never changed. Everything from the dance sequence to comedic scenes are filmed competently. Peterman would also shoot for Men In Black (1997) and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000). Lastly, the score was composed again by Marc Shaiman who worked on the first. Despite not receiving a longer album release like the original, Shaiman keeps the tone and theme motifs the same as the original which is highly welcomed. When it comes to franchises, recurring main titles should remain unchanged unless further developed. Not completely changed. The score to this sequel just serves as an extension to the original album which is fine.
The sequel proves it self to be a little better than the first as it keeps much of what made the original so likable. The actors all do a great job, music is just as fun and camerawork all remain on point. The story is a little more balanced between characters, except for the fact that out of all of them it focuses on Uncle Fester again, which was the first film’s issue.
Points Earned --> 8:10