The transition of beloved family entertainment from animated feature films to straight-to-streaming series has become commonplace. Families eagerly anticipate more content featuring their favorite characters, studios aim to maintain franchise visibility, and parents seek viewing options that are engaging for both themselves and their children without being overly simplistic. A decrease in production value is often expected and accepted in this shift to series formats, but the latest animated feature film endeavor, The Addams Family, unfortunately, feels like a step down in quality akin to a direct-to-Netflix spin-off of itself.
Directed by animation veterans Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon, and penned by Matt Lieberman and Pamela Pettler, this iteration of The Addams Family feels underdeveloped. It gives the impression of a project rushed into production, capitalizing on a star-studded voice cast and established character designs before the screenplay had reached its full potential.
The Addams Family
PG, 87 minutes
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Regal Stonefield 14 and IMAX, Violet Crown Cinema
This animated update revisits Charles Addams’ iconic, morbid family as they navigate life with new neighbors in the meticulously planned community of Assimilation, spearheaded by home improvement television personality Margaux Needler (Allison Janney). Wednesday Addams (Chloë Grace Moretz), traditionally confined to the family estate, challenges norms by enrolling in public school and forming a friendship with a conventional girl (Elsie Fisher), much to the dismay of her mother, Morticia (Charlize Theron). Simultaneously, father Gomez (Oscar Isaac) dedicates himself to training son Pugsley (Finn Wolfhard) in the mazurka, an ancestral Addams tradition and daunting rite of passage that Pugsley is almost certain to botch.
It’s particularly disappointing that this animated film falls short, as the Addams Family’s inherent spookiness, capacity for outlandish physical comedy, and potential for imaginative creature design seem perfectly suited for animation. The live-action adaptations achieved a remarkable cartoonish quality in their performances, blurring the lines in a way rarely seen outside of films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit? This animated format presented an opportunity to amplify that very essence, or at least recapture the darkly humorous, one-liner driven charm of previous versions. Injecting some well-placed bad jokes might have ironically enhanced the experience and provided the talented voice actors with more engaging material.
The casting of Snoop Dogg as Cousin Itt, subsequently distorting his voice beyond recognition, is undeniably an inspired, albeit peculiar, choice. However, the inclusion of “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” played in its entirety in radio edit form, feels jarring and out of place. Nick Kroll, a known talent in voice acting, portrays Uncle Fester in a manner that closely resembles a PG-rated version of his Coach Steve character from “Big Mouth,” a somewhat distracting comparison. The remainder of the voice cast – Isaac, Theron, Moretz, Wolfhard, and Bette Midler as Grandmama – is indeed impressive on paper. One can’t help but wonder if these actors might have been better utilized in a live-action reboot, where their physical performances could have added another layer to these already visually rich characters.
As an adult viewer, it’s clear that this Animated Family film is not primarily aimed at my demographic, but the question remains: who is the intended audience? Children unfamiliar with the Addams Family may find it unremarkable, while those who are acquainted with the franchise through past television series and movies will likely find those earlier iterations far superior. This animated version is no more or less appropriate for children than Addams Family Values, and the signature macabre elements are still present. The crucial missing ingredient is humor; what we are left with is a comedy devoid of genuine laughs, a satire without bite, and a family-friendly romp that somehow manages to be joyless. For those tasked with entertaining children for an afternoon, revisiting the pre-existing, and superior, Addams Family adaptations would be a far more rewarding choice than this new animated offering.
Local theater listings
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema 375 Merchant Walk Sq., 326-5056.
Regal Stonefield 14 and IMAX The Shops at Stonefield, 244-3213.
Violet Crown Cinema 200 W. Main St., Downtown Mall, 529-3000.
SEE IT AGAINBlack Sunday
NR, 87 minutes
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
October 20
Unfortunately for all involved, including audiences, the newest feature film iteration of The Addams Family feels like a Netflix adaptation of itself.
