Addams Family, The

Stars: Voices: Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloe Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard, Nick Kroll, Bette Midler, Allison Janney, Elsie Fisher

Director: Greg Tiernan, Conrad Vernon

A loony animated return of the wacky supernatural family created by Charles Addams in the New Yorker in 1938 and subsequently celebrated as a TV series, feature films, animated movies and even a video game. Morticia, Pugsley, Wednesday, Gomez, Uncle Fester and Grandma return to the big screen in fine animated form.

This time around they have taken up residence, well looked after by their severed-hand servant, in a creepy mansion on a New Jersey hilltop.

Unfortunately, their cheerfully creepy presence upsets reality TV host Margaux Needler who is busy setting up a perfect planned community in the town below the mountain, and sets out to have the Addams dislodged so she can continue her profitable project.

The ensuing cheerfully crazy comedy once again proves the Living cannot beat the Living Dead at their own zany games as directors Tiernan and Vernon serve up a cheerful salad of batty supernatural sillies that ensure easy laughs from viewers who seek just that.

Alan Frank

USA 2019. UK Distributor: Universal. Colour.
82 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: PG.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 1, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 27 Feb 2020

DVD review