Because we’re Addams
So I know, I committed a huge faux pas five years ago when I reviewed the sequel over the original film.
It was my first Horrorfest, and I hadn’t established any “rules” but was just doing whatever I watched or any films that popped in my head.
Oh, well
However, since then I have realized that just because it’s not as good as the sequel, that doesn’t mean I should ignore it.
Yes, I love The Addam’s Family. I watched the TV show, I loved everything about them, and have seen The Addam’s Family Values like a million times.
I love how kind and caring and macabre they are. It is fantastic.
So if it is such a great concept, why is the second film fantastic but the first only okay? (At least in my opinion.)
Hmm…
Well let’s do a brief synopsis:
The Addams family is zany, fun, and awesome. They used to be a giant clan, but have lost people in interesting and deadly ways throughout the years. Now they consist of Gomez Addams, his wife Morticia, and their two kids Pugsley and Wednesday. Morticia’s mother also lives with them in their old Victorian home. Along with the family is their butler Lurch and servant hand Thing.
Gomez had an older brother Fester-but he and Gomez fought and Fester took off, never to be seen again. Through the years Gomez has tried everything to find him.
And has been heartbroken at the loss of his brother, ever hoping that one day he would return.
Meanwhile, their accountant, Tully Alford, has been trying to embezzle from their treasure room. He has no other clients and owes a ton of money to a loan shark. When the loan shark comes to collect bringing her goliath of a son, Gordon, Tully gets an idea.
If they give Gordon a few alterations, he’s a dead ringer for Uncle Fester. They decide to send to the family with a story of him having amnesia in order to have him accepted. Y the Addamses and to discover where the money is.
Gordon does, but as he pretends to be Uncle Fester he starts to enjoy the Addams’ Family way of life. Will he be able to stick to the plan, or will he instead take on the role of Uncle Fester permanently?
Hmm…
So why doesn’t this film work?
Well the issues are that the storyline is boring.
It is something we have seen many times before and you knew immediately how it would end.
Meh.
The storyline is amazing in the sequel! You never knew what was going to happen with the kids, the adults, or Debbie.
In this
In this film the characters are more sedate, while in the sequel they go all out. To be fair I think the director, writer, and actors weren’t sure how far they could go.
It isn’t horrible, but it just isn’t as fun. Especially in comparison to the sequel.
The only thing I really loved about this film was I thought it was cute when Margaret Alford and Cousin It get together, especially how at first she was all “I can’t stand the Addams”, but in the end becomes one.
Aw!
And Raúl Juliá. He was such an amazing actor and he was Gomez Addams. I could watch hour after hour after hour of him being Gomez Addams and never get tired of it.
If they had made a third film (not The Addams Family Reunion), that was just Raúl Juliá being Gomez Addams I would have paid to watch that over and over.
Sadly he passed away at an early age. So sad as we lost a talented star.
It’s not a bad film to watch, but in my opinion the sequel is amazing.
To start Horrorfest VI, from the beginning, go to One of Our Guests is a Werewolf, I Know It.: The Beast Must Die (1974)
For the previous post, go to Why Didn’t You Stop Me, Sam? You Know How Much I Hated Her! Why Didn’t You Stop Me?: The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)
For more on The Addams Family, go to Someone Very Special: The Addam’s Family Values (1993)
For more Horror-Comedies, go to I Died for You! I Came Back from the Dead for You! I Love You!: My Boyfriend’s Back (1993)
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