DVD Review: The Addams Family 2

The Addams Family 2

(DVD j Addams)

 

Following the huge success of the first “modern” Addams Family animated film in 2019 (see my previous review), most of the same vocal and animated talent gathered again to create this sequel, The Addams Family 2. Instead of sticking around the familiar confines of the Addams Family’s gothic mansion, this time, most of the family members go on a road trip, allowing them to poke ghoulish fun at a whole new variety of road trip tropes and cultural stereotypes.

 

The plot of The Addams Family 2, in a nutshell: Continuously morose and darkly disturbing daughter Wednesday makes an impressive showing at a school science fair, but her success deepens her already deep-seated suspicions that she isn’t a real “Addams”. Gomez and Morticia, in an effort to distract Wednesday and also elude a persistent investigator who seems bent on informing them that there was a “switched at birth” accident in the hospital after Wednesday was born, decide to take their oversized mobile home on a trip cross-country.

 

This film, like the earlier one from the same people, veers wildly between dark and slightly morbid humor and violent excess (particularly when Wednesday’s brother Pugsley is allow to let his destructive tendencies go free). The vocal performances by Oscar Isaac as Gomez, Charlize Theron as Morticia, Chloe Grace Moretz as Wednesday and Nick Kroll as Uncle Fester, were all spot-on, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a somewhat emotional subplot for Lurch, the butler, who gets to say far more than “Yooooouuu Raaaaangggg?”

 

All in all, an entertaining Addams Family entry, though I strongly recommend seeing the 2019 film first. I’m still far more of a fan of the 1964-66 black & white sitcom (with John Astin and Carolyn Jones as Gomez and Morticia), or the 1991 and 1993 films, with Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston as Gomez and Morticia. But these new animated version are still very entertaining.

 

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Addams Family (1964-67 available in three individual season sets), The Addams Family (1991) and The Addams Family Values (1993), or The Addams Family (2019 animated).)

 

( Internet Movie Database entry for this film ) | ( official The Addams Family 2 web site )

 

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

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