Next on my Halloween movie tour, I saw it fitting to include both versions of The Addams Family. Those the stories are the same as a not so normal family trying to fit in, both ’91 version as well as the latest 2019 version have differences that will make watching both that much more enjoyable.
Let’s start with the 91 version which stars an all star cast, including Angelica Huston as Morticia Addams and Raul Julia as Gomez Addams. Additionally stars include Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester, a very young Christina Ricci as Wendy Addams and Jimmy Workman as Pugsley.
As far as the story line, the ’91 version jumps right into the middle of the story introducing the Addam’s as a normal family that like not so normal things. Anything that we see as odd, they see as normal and vice versa. Throughout the story we learn Uncle Fester, missing for 20 years, returns with a secret motive to take all of the Addam’s fortune for himself, however this is all with the persuasion of his “mother”, an evil woman who just wants the money for herself.
All in all the cast, makes a remake very hard to accomplish well as each actor carefully was able to perfect the wierdness that people love about this family.
The difference in the 2019 version, aside from the obvious animation element, there are a few other key factors that make this version stand out compared to the ’91 version. The voice actors include, Oscar Issac as Gomez and Charlize Theron as Morticia. Additionally Chloe Grace Moretz plays Wednesday and Finn Wolfhard as Pugsley.
The story actually takes us back to the beginning with the wedding of Morticia and Gomez which ends with them being run out o their own town. In that moment we see that they are not wanted, however we learn quickly that all they do want is someplace safe to call home. We also see how Lurch (Conrad Vernon) is brought into the picture as they find him on the road on the way to finding the “perfect place” to call home.
Now fast forward 13 years and we are introduced to the family, similar to what the 91 version introduced us to. The Addams are a family that is fascinated with all types of torture devices which they see as quite normal ‘toys’. The one difference is in the ‘new’ Wednesday who seems to want more than the dull dreary life that her family has created. A red balloon from the nearby town sends her on a exploration that leads her to a discovery of herself, though also introducing her to Margaux Needler (Allison Janney) a powerful woman who seeks perfection in hopes of selling the houses she created on the edge of the Addam’s land.
Now it is up to Wednesday and her new friend, Margaux’ estranged daughter, Parker (Elsie Fisher) to bring the truth behind what her mother is really doing and show the town that the Addam’s family is just your not so normal next door neighbor looking for acceptance.
All in all both versions are must sees on the road to Halloween. They provide enough spook without being to over the top and in the end has the same message of acceptance and love despite who your family is. Both Addam Family Movies are streaming now on Netflix for the ’91 version and Hulu for the animated one. Add them to your Halloween enjoyment while the season is still at hand.