Repeat Rewind Review: Addams Family Values (1993).

The Addams Family Values (1993). Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. Written by Barry Sonnenfeld, Charles Addams, Paul Rudnick.

[Joan Cusack, Christina Ricci, Anjelica Huston.]

Right. I came up with an idea, one that I will be tapping myself on the back for. There are so many movies I’ve only seen once or were watched so long ago, that I often forget everything except for the fact that I enjoyed it upon viewing.

So, I decided to do a re-watch with a twist. I’m going to start with a blind review- based purely on the details I remember from the first watch. I’ll then re-watch the chosen movie, adding an updated review.

I’m excited to see my shifts in perspective, to find out if the details that made the film great and to see if those elements still hold up after time. Personally, I try to revisit my favourites- particularly series, which I tend to watch until I get sick of them- only to do the same thing less than 12 months later- annually.

I change so much each year and rewatches are my perfect solution to seeing how those changes have occurred; always surprised by what sticks out to me now, what I related to back then, and what I currently relate to. And so, without further ado,

BLIND REVIEW

For reasons I would chalk up to pure unfortunate timing, I have a habit of watching the sequels of movies before their predecessors. Legally Blonde, Father of the Bride, Miss Congeniality, Transformers…

This rewind is a bit of a cheat, I have definitely re-visited the Addams family many a time, but I felt that there’s a certain quality to these movies that ensure you don’t feel like you’ve watched them thousand times over.

My juvenile self entered blind, and exited both baffled, and bewildered. Why was everyone acting so normal? And why were they a happier, better-functioning family than any other I had seen on my tv screen up until this point?

I will never ever forget the first time I saw Debbie- I think I reacted the exact same as Fester. This movie had the playfulness of all good films, twisting and using satirical advantages to evolve and rebirth the family genre.

Fester and Gomez have a relationship most can only dream of (lucky me), sticking by one another, not always understanding why they are slipping apart, but never holding any grudges. The love between brothers always overpowers their complications.

Wednesday and Pugsley were more than relatable- I think every sibling can attest to this, showing us a natural child complex that children can relate to.

The best parts of this movie are the unexpected plot lines between both Fester and Debbie- and Wednesday and Pugsley going to camp. Camp is one of the best storylines in cinematic history, ahead of the game in all the mockery of what had been popularized and doted on up until this point (white, blonde, preppy Christian conservatives) challenging children dealing with conformity- forced and cornered into fitting in with the masses- to enjoy the same things as others. There is a powerful message in rejecting the status quo to embrace who you know you truly are.

The Addams family took advantage of many witty, pointed, and macabre nods to the strange morbidity of the Addams- but their casualness and harmlessness remind us to enjoy and be who we are – as long as it’s not at the expense of others.

RE-VIEW; REVIEW

Addams Family Values employs a reminiscent style of black humour- one that stayed truer to the original comic designs of the 60s. Contrary to today’s preferred definition, ‘dark humour’- a tool often used to pass off insulting minorities as merely harmless banter- the Addams Family writers electing this style of comedy merely work to turn the fears surrounding topics, such as death, into lighthearted puns, props, sets, and set-ups, and so by doing such, they are inviting us to replace our nervousness with the normalization of something that may be scary, but is also a natural part of life.

Contrary to the emphasis on dark, all the humour surrounding the Addams Family remains light-hearted and warped with wit, taking advantage of the finer details- each prop and accessory tell their own little joke, and this technique helps bring the focus back to the underlying theme of spookiness, leaving a space for the characters to express actions and feelings that don’t always relate to their macabre lifestyle. Having these characters interact with daily tasks, items, and interactions- but in a personalized and preferential way, successfully balances campiness with a solid, and meaningful plotline.

As a sequel, the creators of Addams Family Values did a wonderful job at absorbing and engaging with the reception of the first film- bringing characters like Fester to the forefront and building one of the main storylines around him and his love life.

Which is my segway to finally addressing our Mother, our Zeitgeist, Debbie! Joan Cusack knocked it out of the fucking park!! And each second she spent on screen surely added extra seconds to my lifespan! Debbie works as the perfect villain for the Addams Family because she represents the wanted western women of the 90s. The sanctified Stepford wife: perfectly presented; draped in whites and pastels, softly and sweetly spoken, a top candidate for what society desired women to exude. Creating a character that utilizes traits deemed ideal by society to advance her own evil ambitions, whose behaviour mirrors that of many privileged Americans.

Similarly, sending Wednesday and Pugsley off to summer camp was ingenious! I want to reiterate what I mentioned during my first review: there is a greater level of openly opposing the social climate of the 90s that bleeds into the movie's overarching theme throughout- best depicted through the series of conflicts these children face at said camp. Conformity is mocked; individuality is favoured- encouraging the viewer to embrace their interests, passions, and personalities- whether it be enjoying reading, fashion & friendship, or even homicide.

It's also safe to say that the writers used the summer camp as an opportunity to cause doubt surrounding the controversies and savageries of American history- questioning how these atrocities have not only been looked over, but were, and to an extent, still are- watered down, softened, and even celebrated, encouraging young Americans to dismiss these events- in this case, thanksgiving- as merely moments the United States gained further success.

This movie doesn’t take itself too seriously, adding to the mockery of the ideal nuclear family, and this leaves us with plenty of time to just have fun. Creating sequences of action, suspense, special effects, and physical comedy creates a wonderful flow that screams quality entertainment. I do believe this will be my first 10/10.

“Aren't I a human being? Don't I yearn and ache... and shop?”

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