DVD Corner

The Addams Family Blu-ray Review

2019’s “The Addams Family” is a flat franchise revival.

It’s been a long time since “The Addams Family” graced the big screen (1993 to be exact), but everybody’s favorite kooky family returns to cinema with a new CGI animated film directed by Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan. The story: 13 years after fleeing NY, the Addams family has made a home in NJ. The family keep to themselves, but Wednesday yearns to see what is beyond her own home. To make a long story short, the main plots involve a reality TV show host (Margaux) trying to build a perfect community which does not include the Addams residence, Wednesday making a friend, and Pugsley set to undergo an important traditional rite of passage.

My first thoughts after seeing “The Addams Family” was “This is the best writers Matt Lieberman and Pamela Pettler could come up with?” Not only is this a slight and basic story about being different, acceptance, and community, but it’s a largely bland and unfunny horror-comedy that is never weird or creepy enough. There is so much that could have been done with this IP (especially in animated form), but the writers simply drop the ball by delivering a watered down version of the beloved franchise. With all of that said, it’s quite possible this new take will find an audience with a new generation of fans which was, I’m sure, the plan. Aside from the nods to past incarnations, it’s unlikely fans of the TV series and 90’s films will be as on board with it.

“The Addams Family” isn’t a complete dud though. First and foremost, I appreciated the fact that animation harkens back to creator/cartoonist’s Charles Addams original works. Secondly, it’s always nice to see horror-comedy stories aimed at a younger audience. There is not enough of it out there and this works well as a gateway to horror. Third, the cast is legit here (particularly Oscar Isaac as Gomez and Charlize Theron as Morticia, Chloe Grace Moretz as Wednesday). Only Nick Kroll’s Uncle Fester seems miscast (it feels like he’s in another movie entirely).

Overall Thoughts: Given that the film was a hit and that a sequel is forthcoming, I truly hope the creative team step up their game with the sequel as the potential is there. Unfortunately, this first entry is flat out uneventful.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 1080p. How does it look? The colorful CGI animation shines in 1080p.

Audio: 7.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? This track hits all the right notes

Extras:
* DVD copy
* Digital copy
* Universal trailers
* 4 deleted/extended scenes
* “Charades With Thing”- A game with Thing.
* “Life of a Scene”- A look at the various stages of a construction of a scene.
* A “Haunted Heart” and “My Family lyric videos
* “Welcome To The Family”- A featurette about the main characters.
* “Addams Family Throwback”- An extra about Charles Addams work

January 19, 2020 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Animated Film, animation, Charlize Theron, Horror Comedy, Oscar Isaac, The Addams Family, The Addams Family 2019 Blu-ray Review, The Addams Family Blu-ray Review