TAF/TAFV
The Addams Family – Nice haunted house/haunted Hallowe’en images, but more than that it’s the crackling dialogue that reveals the topsy-turvy world of the Addams Family. “Don’t torture yourself – that’s my job.” “Last night you were unhinged, a howling demon, I was afraid. Do it again.” “You could have had any woman you wanted, dead or alive.” “We gladly feast on those who would subsume us.” The children’s day presentation with showers of blood is good clean fun. The judge next door, and all of the is-he-or-isn’t he about whether or not Gordon can be the real Fester, in essence or in fact, is pretty funny. It’s a short film, so it doesn’t even outstay its welcome. Great. Can’t wait to watch “Addams Family Values.”
The Addams Family Values – A sequel to The Addams Family, full of great lines.
He has his fathers’s eyes.
Gomez – take those out of his mouth.
He’s quite the ladykiller.
[Cheerfully] Acquitted!
We just want to play with the baby.
Especially his head.
I have no time to seek out the dark forces and join their hellish crusade.
Ohh… I bet you wish it was still just the two of you.
Or less.
Hello, Polly. I’ll clean up my room in exchange for your mortal soul.
One house, three children, so many windows.
You… are… Mister… Debbie!
[When hearing the baby's name for the first time] Pubert, I like it – it’s filthy.
Don’t worry, Fester, you’ll meet someone special – someone who won’t press charges.
Despite all of the great lines, there is a lot of fun in the film – Pugsley and Wednesday going off to camp, with Becky and Gary Granger, who sing “Kumbaya”, and the repulsive “Eat Me” Thanksgiving song. Morticia’s great as the mother of a young child, reading him “The Cat In The Hat”, skipping to the ending: “Oh no… it lives.” Joan Cusack is not so bad as Debbie Jilinsky, the black widow murderess. Gomez is hysterical as a sadistic brother, throwing Fester upside-down against the wall and pinning him to it with throwing knives. Zen and I crack up recalling the guillotine scene where Pubert is to be executed Reign-of-Terror style (“Woe to the Republic”), Wednesday’s perky smile (“I’m scared”, howls one camper), and Wednesday’s fake life saving scene (“I can’t swim”). Vive la Addams!