Addams Family Values: 4K UHD Review
There have been a few different incarnations of The Addams Family over the past 85 years. First there was the single-panel comics which originated in 1938, followed by the 1964 television show that lasted two seasons. There were made-for-TV movies and an animated series, live-action and animated theatrical releases, plus the current Netflix series, Wednesday. However, my personal favorites would be Barry Sonnenfeld’s The Addams Family (1991) and Addams Family Values (1993). The latter arrived on 4K UHD for the first time this week.
Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, Carel Struycken & Jimmy Workman all returned for the sequel which according to many is superior to the 1991 film. For me, I have a hard time picking a favorite. For the most part, Addams Family Values feels like a natural continuation, which is what a sequel should feel like. It never feels like a meaningless cash grab. Julia and Huston are perfection as Gomez and Morticia Addams and Christina Ricci is given even more layers this time around after her break-out performance in the original. We also have welcome newcomers, Joan Cusack, David Krumholts and a memorable cameo from Nathan Lane.
Addams Family Values begins with a new addition to the family, baby Pubert. Wednesday (Ricci) and her brother Pugsley (Workman) are not happy about the recent addition and try to figure out ways to kill their new sibling. Each attempt is a failure, but Morticia and Gomez feel its time to hire a nanny to help look after the baby. The job goes to Debbie Jellinsky (Cusack), who seems to be the perfect fit.
Unfortunately, the new nanny isn’t who she seems. It turns out Debbie is actually the notorious Black Widow and wanted by the authorities. Debbie finds a rich bachelor to marry and then kills him for the money. Debbie has her sights set on Fester (Lloyd), who has instantly fallen in love with the killer nanny. Fearing that the Addams’ children are catching onto her, she manipulates Morticia and Gomez to send Wednesday and Pugsley to summer camp.
There are some elements in Addams Family Values that I wish were a little more original. Once again, we have an outsider trying to get their hands on the family fortune. Uncle Fester is also once again being manipulated. Still, one of the best things in Values would be the summer camp aspect of the story. We begin to see Wednesday begin to feel something for someone that is very different than her family and Krumholtz gives a truly funny performance as the young Joel Glicker, a nice Jewish kid at the camp who is allergic to just about everything. Maybe Wednesday finds the fact that almost anything can harm him attractive. Cusack is also having a whole bunch of fun as the homicidal bride, who becomes increasingly agitated that Fester is not easy to kill.
Paramount’s new 2160p presentation with Dolby Vision. The new 4K restoration was sourced by the original camera negative. Both of Sonnenfeld’s Addams Family films have incredible production design and much like that 4K release, this new restoration is stellar. While the interiors of the Addams’ mansion look detailed and sharp, the daytime shots at the summer camp, really pop. The greens from the plant-life are vibrant and it’ one of the few times in the film, that we see a greater color scheme, aside from Fester and Debbie’s honeymoon suite. The blacks also look dee, which helps with not only the mansion interiors, but the graveyard, just outside the home. As for sound, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track has been ported over from the previously released Blu-ray. While there is no Dolby Atmos upgrade, there are no issues to be found with this already great audio presentation. These films have a great score by composer Marc Shaiman and the 5.1 track definitely delivers. If you are a fan of the Addams clan, I highly recommend jumping on this release.
Bonus Content:
- NEW! Commentary by director Barry Sonnenfeld and screenwriter Paul Rudnick— The writer and director of ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES reunite to watch their beloved comedy and provide new insight on the production and the film’s continuing legacy.
- NEW! Creating Family Values— The Paramount Archives digs up a collection of insightful behind-the-scenes images and interviews shot during the production of ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES—including director Barry Sonnenfeld, screenwriter Paul Rudnick, and stars Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, and Joan Cusack.
By: Marc Ferman