Before Oscar Isaac and Charlize Theron lent their voices in 2019, Raul Julia and Angelica Huston embraced gothic glamour and brought Gomez and Morticia Addams to life in Barry Sonnenfeld’s 1991 live-action adaptation of The Addams Family.
What is it about The Addams Family that we still fondly adore? Opening with a group of jolly Christmas carolers having boiling oil poured on them from above maybe isn’t quite the selling point you were hoping for as far as festive features go, but it does do a great job in establishing the absolute absurdity that follows.
Take a look at the cast: Angelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, and Raul Julia, all impeccable in their roles, impressively ribbing off of one another at the drop of a hat. Julia and Huston as a passionate, doting couple? Talk about chemistry, am I right?
Why we still love The Addams Family 30 years later
Chris Lloyd nails Uncle Fester’s constant deer-caught-in-headlights expression, and a young Christina Ricci hilariously embodies Gomez and Morticia’s sadistic eldest child, Wednesday – easily giving one of the best performances of her career. Laughs come rolling in at her dry delivery of every line. Wednesday is blunt, to say the least, savagely taking sibling rivalry to a whole new level. Through Ricci’s portrayal, we see a peculiar perspective on a youth’s inquisitive mind.
Who wasn’t fascinated by the Bermuda Triangle when they were 11-years-old? Wednesday represents individuality. Own your kooky side, break through those expectations, just try not to electrocute your brother in the process.
“This is my costume. I’m a homicidal maniac. They look just like everybody else.”
Wednesday Addams, unsung hero.
The Addams Family Morticia and Gomez are couple goals
Let’s talk about Morticia and Gomez, so they’re not the conventional depiction of true love, but that is exactly what makes them so iconic. Their relationship and enamor towards one another is purely wholesome. Couple goals comes to mind.
Sonnenfeld is a visionary. From the elaborate aesthetic to the innovative special effects, The Addams Family is delightfully wicked and twisted in all of the best ways. He takes the project by the reigns, moulds his creation to perfection (or imperfection in the case of the Addams’).
It’s beyond difficult to imagine a better representation of this beloved, wacky family. For what is normal in the lives of the Addams’ is baffling to the average Joe. Although, their bookcase is pretty awesome.
Ghoulish gags and slapstick humor gains another victory. Whatever magic Sonnenfeld had tucked up his sleeve worked wonders because The Addams Family is a joyride during its entire runtime. Oh how envious I was (am) of the party sequence.
The Addams family were already a blast to be around then Gomez and Fester go and pull off The Mamushka! Whoever originated the idea is a genius. Don’t get me started on the adult humor planted throughout; watching the movie as a grown-up is a whole new experience once you fathom the undertones within Morticia and Gomez’s banter.
What more is there to possibly say on a flawless family favourite? An inversion of the all-American, white-picket imagery, The Addams Family is indeed creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky, and altogether ooky, but hey, they’re still the humblest, loving family on TV, unconventionally so.
You cannot get enough of this quirky household. One may ask: does it get better than this? Well, two years later, Sonnenfeld and his eccentric cast return for an edgier, uproarious, outlandish sequel with more than a few new famous faces in tow, and boy, is it an adventure!
30 Years Since: The Addams Family (1991)
Source: Pinoy White Knights
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