The Addams Family, that beloved macabre clan, has captivated audiences for generations across television and film. Following the iconic live-action movies of the 1990s, a new animated rendition brought them back to the big screen, introducing the spooky family to a fresh audience. This iteration, simply titled “The Addams Family” (2019), offers a comedic origin story, delving into how Gomez, Morticia, and their peculiar children came to inhabit their infamous haunted mansion.
This animated movie reimagines the family’s beginnings, starting with Gomez (voiced by Oscar Isaac) and Morticia (voiced by Charlize Theron) as they are driven from their wedding ceremony by intolerant townsfolk. Seeking refuge, they stumble upon a gloomy asylum perched atop a hill, a place perfectly suited to their unconventional tastes. They find their loyal butler, Lurch (voiced by Conrad Vernon), and establish a life that is blissfully bizarre for thirteen years. Their idyllic spooky existence is disrupted by the encroachment of the outside world, specifically a planned community called Assimilation, spearheaded by the perky home makeover TV host Margaux Needler (voiced by Allison Janney). Assimilation embodies everything the Addams family despises: bright colors, forced cheerfulness, and cookie-cutter conformity. The stark contrast between the Addams’ gothic mansion and the pastel suburbia below creates immediate conflict and comedic opportunities.
The film also explores the individual struggles of the Addams children. Wednesday (voiced by Chloe Grace Moretz), true to her character, navigates a rebellious phase, even experimenting with… a hair barrette. Pugsley (voiced by Finn Wolfhard), on the other hand, grapples with the Marsuka, a traditional Addams sword dance and rite of passage, providing further humorous scenarios. The narrative balances the external conflict with Margaux Needler’s assimilation plot and the internal family dynamics, offering a multi-layered, albeit lighthearted, story.
While “The Addams Family” (2019) delivers mild amusement and entertainment, echoing the sentiment of the original review, it does raise the question of necessity in a landscape already rich with Addams Family content. Hollywood’s trend of animating live-action properties and vice versa continues, prompting reflection on the creative choices behind these adaptations and their impact on beloved franchises like The Addams Family Movies. Ultimately, this animated film serves as another chapter in the ongoing saga of this iconic family, appealing to both nostalgic fans and a new generation discovering the wonderfully weird world of the Addamses.
