The superior sequel is a rare thing. When you consider that all follow-ups are effectively cash-ins on their original counterparts it’s a wonder any have any artistic merit at all. That said, they do exist. Some are obvious; The Empire Strikes Back, The Godfather II, the return of Ash in Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead sequel, but what about all those that slip under the radar, escaping the praise they so deserve and being banished to bargain bins and CEX shelves nationwide? Surely they deserve some credit for building on and improving the original recipe?
This is a blog about those films.
This is a blog about those films.
the film
Barry Sonnenfeld’s Addams Family Values has no right to be as funny as it is. For starters, it’s a sequel to a film that’s based on a kitsch 60’s TV show which itself was based on a simple one-panel comic-strip. And yet, its writing and performances still hold up to this day. In fact, it has those two things to thank for its longevity. It’d be easy to write this one off completely (1991’s The Addams Family doesn’t quite hold up on repeat viewings compared ‘93’s revisit), however some expertly dry turns from the likes of Raul Julia, Anjelica Houston and Christina Ricci keep it alive. The on-screen talent did half the work, the other half was provided by screenwriter Paul Rudin’s razor sharp dialogue. Combine the two and you’ll find yourself still smirking twenty-odd years later.
The proof
Julia and Huston’s darkly funny back-and-forths are compelling yet both excel on their own terms. “These Addams men, where do you find them?” asks blonde Black Widow Debbie. “It has to be damp” replies Morticia slyly. Meanwhile, Julia’s overtly dramatic Gomez struggles to fit into the confines of your TV screen. His voice alone and skill for delivery is larger than some of the film’s set pieces. “You belong to Debbie!” declares a distressed Gomez at losing his beloved brother to a deadly temptress. “You’re Debbie’s love toy,” he continues. “You are MR. DEBBIE!”
The film’s 94 minute runtime is littered with these gems however it’s Christina Ricci who gets the best of the lot in a role that came to define her early career. Her po-faced, sardonic delivery fills almost all of her screentime with deadly wit. “Why are you dressed like somebody died?” asks super peppy camp kid Amanda. Wednesday’s one word answer says it all - “Wait”.
The film’s 94 minute runtime is littered with these gems however it’s Christina Ricci who gets the best of the lot in a role that came to define her early career. Her po-faced, sardonic delivery fills almost all of her screentime with deadly wit. “Why are you dressed like somebody died?” asks super peppy camp kid Amanda. Wednesday’s one word answer says it all - “Wait”.
The last word
Plot-wise, the film straddles the boundaries of old and new. Its re-run of a Fester-focused story is perhaps a little too close to the plot of the original but as proven above, its abundance of one-liners more than makes up for this retread. Its cast are key too and the fact that a successful reboot has yet to be found following the untimely death of star Raul Julia says heaps about the overflowing talent found in this ensemble cast.
It’s easy to see why Addams Family Values may have been overlooked during its original release. The early ‘90s saw a boom in glossy, vibrant and big-budget studio comedies. Hook, Hocus Pocus and Home Alone all immediately spring to mind. The real test is to see how they fair years later. Not all of them hold up, not by a long shot (remember Theodore Rex?), but there’s definitely still something fun about Sonnenfeld’s Addams Family Values.
It’s easy to see why Addams Family Values may have been overlooked during its original release. The early ‘90s saw a boom in glossy, vibrant and big-budget studio comedies. Hook, Hocus Pocus and Home Alone all immediately spring to mind. The real test is to see how they fair years later. Not all of them hold up, not by a long shot (remember Theodore Rex?), but there’s definitely still something fun about Sonnenfeld’s Addams Family Values.
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