The Addams Family Misfire

In a world of remakes, reboots, and revivals is the Addams Family worthy of one? While something interesting could have been done, Addams Family plays it safe, perhaps too safe. The movie gives a basic origin story about the family on the run from the old country and finally settling down in an abandoned mental institution and living in solitude. They are discovered when a TV home makeover personality is trying to sell all the homes in the town. The family and their house don’t meet the look of “normal middle America”.

While the voice cast stars a mainly a-list cast including Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Finn Wolfhard, Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Kroll, and Allison Janney, the only performances that really shine are Chloë as Wednesday and Allison as the tv personally/main antagonist. While Nick Kroll as Uncle Fester is funny, the rest of the cast are pretty forgettable.

The movie has four writers who have all written animated children’s films. Some have written more mature kids films than others. There were some clever horror movie references and a positive overall message about accepting people for who they are. While kids may laugh and enjoy the visuals, people who are seeing the Addams Family characters for the first time may find them mostly bland and restrained. As for adults who know the characters they might feel bored with the lack of imagination when there could have been more interesting choices made. I will probably never see this movie again nor will I remember it in a year. I doubt most of its audience will either. 🍔