The Addams Family (2019) [Blu-ray+DVD+Digital]
(Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloe Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard, Nick Kroll, et al / Blu-ray + DVD + Digital / PG / 2020 / Universal Pictures Home Entertainment)
Overview: Get ready to snap your fingers! The Addams Family is back in their first animated comedy about the kookiest family on the block.
Funny, outlandish, and completely iconic, 'The Addams Family' redefines what it means to be a good neighbor.
Blu-ray Verdict: In truth, 'The Addams Family' knows how to have fun! The new animated film delivers what you want from the titular family: spades of dark humor jokes!
The movie successfully delivers when it comes to the four main family members. (Uncle Fester (Nick Kroll) and Granny (Bette Midler) are just okay.)
Gomez (Oscar Isaacs) is the congenial family man with a zest for life. Morticia is the over-protective mother whose viewpoint you understand.
Though the movie does have the parents be a little more sentimental than some portrayals, I do think it still captured the core of the characters.
More effort is put into characterization for Pugsley (Finn Wolfhard) than a lot of previous versions. Let's be honest, Wednesday is usually the sibling that pulls focus.
Speaking of which, this version is not much different. This Wednesday (Chloe Grace Moretz) gives the Christina Ricci version a run for her money.
This is by far the most unnervingly emotionless one, and the animated format is able to do things to increase her creepiness that you couldn't do in animation.
The story, though, is very basic. It is the trope of the "normies" vs. the misunderstood monsters with predictable parent-child rifts.
The normal people, especially villainous home renovator Margaux Needler (Allison Janney), are pretty predictable and uninteresting.
I've seen Janney do good voice work before but here it feels like she's trying for a vocal quality she is never able to quite capture.
This appears to be a modestly budgeted film so don't expect Pixar, Disney, or Dreamworks-quality animation. I found the character design for a lot of the townsfolk to be disappointing.
Though I did eventually get accustomed to it, the decision to make Morticia's face look like a skull wasn't what I felt to be the best option for the character.
It felt a little at odds with the original New Yorker cartoon and previous animated versions. I think it's the chin that's the main issue. It was a little too long. I did like the decoration of the Addams Family house.
I do prefer the two '90s live-action versions over this. This one is more of a children's movie, and the original ones being for an older audience were able to go darker and more-over-the-top.
This movie also has less of a distinct identity than its predecessors. (Though in fairness, what can you expect with any Addams Family movie without Raoul Julia?)
I can't say this is the greatest animated kids film, either. However, it is a highly enjoyable rainy Sunday afternoon movie for the entire family to come together with. This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:
• Deleted and Extended Scenes*
• Welcome to the Family* – In this combined Making of/Character Profiles, we hear from the filmmakers and stars of The Addams Family about how the film came about, the animation process and insight into the characters.
• Life of a Scene* – From black & white storyboards and layouts to animation and lighting, follow along with filmmakers as they bring to life a scene from the movie.
• Charades with Thing* – There’s nothing quite like a game of Charades with your friends. But what happens when the person giving the clues isn’t exactly a person? What if he’s just… a hand? On talent day, stars of the film are invited to play Charades with Thing. Talent goes head-to-head, competing to see who can guess Thing’s clues. Graphics reveal the answers and keep score for each player.
• Addams Family Throwback
• “Haunted Heart” Lyric Video – performed by Christina Aguilera
• “My Family” Lyric Video – performed by Migos, Karol G, Rock Mafia & Snoop Dogg
* Never-before-seen bonus content.
Everyone’s favorite creepy and kooky family is back in the “frighteningly funny and fresh” (Rosie Knight, IGN) animated feature film, 'The Addams Family,' arriving on Digital December 24th, 2019 and on Blu-ray™️, DVD and On Demand January 21st, 2020 from Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios (MGM) and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
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'The Addams Family' Movie Trailer
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