The Addams Family 2
review by Bobby Blakey
There have been a lot of classic TV series that have made their way onto the big screen, but few have the content to work in both live action and animation. After two live action theatrical releases in 1991 and 1993 as well as some straight to video releases in 1998 the popular series The Adams Family hit theaters in its first animated feature in 2019. Thanks to its success we are getting to return to the altogether spooky family with The Addams Family 2 starring Charlize Theron, Oscar Isaac, Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Kroll, Bette Midler, and Snoop Dogg along with new additions Bill Hader and Javon “Wanna” Walton with Greg Tierman returning to the director’s chair.
The Addam’s Family follows Morticia and Gomez who are distraught that their children are growing up, skipping family dinners, and totally consumed with “scream time.” To reclaim their bond, they decide to cram Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester, and the crew into their haunted camper and hit the road for one last miserable family vacation. Their adventure across America takes them out of their element and into hilarious run-ins with their iconic cousin, IT, as well as many new kooky characters. What could possibly go wrong?
I love the first film especially the character designs focused more on the original comic looks than the TV series. It was silly fun and totally ridiculous chaos as The Addam’s should be. For some reason with sequels like this they always want to send the story out on some kind of vacation, but with characters this great it still manages to bring the fun and laughs once again.
The story shifts its focus to a lot more on Wednesday this time around with her story being the catalyst to the rest of the family’s adventure. Taking the Addam’s out of the house and horror like surroundings works for the fish out of water element, but they aren’t overly affected by that so has less of an impact. There are at their best in their insane own world and it was the only thing about this film that I think made it not as strong as the first one, but because they are so entertaining in their own right still works.
The story is simple and not anything we haven’t seen before in some manor, but the over the top wacky nature of their ways makes it still fun to watch. The cast are all great in their roles with Isaac and Theron hamming it up as Gomez and Morticia once again. Nick Kroll is always great as Fester and gets some fun new things to do with the character. The real star this time around is Mortez who brings the perfect dry and often depressing vibe to Wednesday through every situation.
There is a twist to the film that offers up more for Lurch to do a few times other than just being the butler which was great. The ending takes the gloves off and goes all in for the craziness to offer up a silly fun stamp on the end of it all. The animation is gorgeous as always and if you loved the first one you will no doubt have fun with this one too. I hope there will be another, but if so hope it sticks more to the horror roots of the fun. In that vein there is a fun blink and you will miss it nod to Halloween, The Shining, Friday the 13th and more that is really clever.
In addition to the film this release offers up bonus content including featurettes on bringing this latest kooky adventure to life. Grab your copy of The Addams Family 2 available now on digital, Blu-ray and DVD on from Universal and MGM Home Entertainment.
