Addams Family Values (1993)

Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. Starring Christopher Lloyd, Joan Cusack, Raúl Juliá, Christina Ricci, Anjelica Huston, Jimmy Workman, David Krumholtz, Carel Struycken, Peter MacNicol, Christine Baranski, Carol Kane, Mercedes McNab. [PG-13]

Second live-action film outing for the strange, macabre Addams clan lacks the same sense of twisted discovery found in the first, and separates the family on their own little misadventures for much of the runtime, but offers a slightly higher quotient of laughs on balance, and, comedically speaking, puts its best foot forward more often by letting the family interact with “normal” (homogenized) outsiders. Gomez and Morticia recede a bit to make room for Uncle Fester’s courtship/marriage to nanny Cusack, who came on to take care of the family’s newest bundle of unearthly joy, Pubert; she’s humorous, especially when her true colors emerge, but their early scenes together aren’t as fun as the rapt yet mordant eroticism generated by the heads of the household. Meanwhile, Wednesday and Pugsley are sent off to summer camp, where they’re singled out by a couple of uptight counselors and “radicalize” the Thanksgiving play (Wednesday as Pocahontas)—aside from the vivid production design elements, these sequences are the highlights. Carol Kane replaces Judith Malina as Grandmama Addams. In bit parts and cameos, look for Nathan Lane, Tony Shalhoub, Peter Graves, David Hyde Pierce, director Barry Sonnenfeld, and more.

72/100