The Addams Family **** (1991, Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, Jimmy Workman) – Classic Movie Review 5686

Director Barry Sonnenfeld’s 1991 movie is a witty, often hilarious Gothic black comedy based on the Sixties TV show, in turn based on the macabre cartoons by Charles Addams, with ideal casting in Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia and Christopher Lloyd as Morticia, Gomez and Uncle Fester Addams.

It is written by Caroline Thompson and Larry Wilson. The plot is hardly important, and yet the movie is let down by its feeble story about an attorney sending in a fake Uncle Fester (Lloyd) to grab the family fortunes. However, the dark but friendly tone is admirably sustained, and it looks a treat thanks to world-class cinematographer Sonnenfeld in his more than confident début as director and the work of its ace cinematographer Owen Roizman.

Huston, Julia and Lloyd ooze style and charisma in winning turns. They are just great. Christina Ricci and Jimmy Workman are classy hit turns as the kids, Wednesday and Pugsley. The performers and performances are grand and put on quite a show.

A couple of musical numbers, including Mamushka, go so well that you wish they had turned it into a full-blown musical comedy.

It is a splendid production. The ‘Thing’ prosthetics and puppets are by David Miller Studio and the make-up is by Fern Buchner. Ruth Myers was Oscar nominated for Best Costume Design. Richard Macdonald was Bafta nominated for Best Production Design, and Fern Buchner, Katherine James and Kevin Haney were Bafta nominated for Best Make Up Artist. Anjelica Huston was Golden Globe nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical.

It is followed by Addams Family Values (1993) and Addams Family Reunion (1998), but Carel Struycken’s Lurch and Christopher Hart’s Thing are the only ones in all three films.

Also in the cast are Dan Hedaya, Elizabeth Wilson, Judith Malina, Dana Ivey, Paul Benedict, John Franklin, Tony Azito, Douglas Brian Martin, Steven M Martin, Allegra Kent, Maureen Sue Levin, Darlene Levin, Richard Korthaze, Ryan Holihan, Kate McGregor-Stuart, Lela Ivey, Whit Hertford, Patty Maloney, Victoria Hall, Jimmy Ross and Mercedes McNab.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5686

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