Addams Family Values (1993)

The Addams Family try to rescue their beloved Uncle Fester from his gold-digging new love, a black widow named Debbie.

Director:

Barry Sonnenfeld

Writers:

Charles Addams (characters), Paul Rudnick

Stars:

Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anjelica Huston	...	Morticia Addams
Raul Julia	...	Gomez Addams
Christopher Lloyd	...	Uncle Fester Addams
Joan Cusack	...	Debbie Jellinsky
Christina Ricci	...	Wednesday Addams
Carol Kane	...	Granny
Jimmy Workman	...	Pugsley Addams
Kaitlyn Hooper	...	Pubert Addams
Kristen Hooper	...	Pubert Addams
Carel Struycken	...	Lurch
David Krumholtz	...	Joel Glicker
Christopher Hart	...	Thing
Dana Ivey	...	Margaret Addams
Peter MacNicol	...	Gary Granger
Christine Baranski	...	Becky Martin-Granger

Storyline

When an adorable baby boy is added to the Addams household, Wednesday and Pugsley do not hate him, they just aren't necessarily excited about his existence. OK...yeah, they do hate him. So they plot to get rid of him one way or another. Meanwhile, their parents hire a nanny for him and she charms Fester, but has evil intentions for him. The Addamses must stop her, but how?

---

Plot Keywords:

baby boy | baby brother | brother brother relationship | husband wife relationship | baby son | 

---

Taglines:

Creepier. Kookier. Spookier. Ookier.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for macabre humor

Did You Know?

Trivia

Wednesday and Pugsley's old-fashioned swimsuits are Victorian styles, circa the late 1800s to early 1900s (Victorian era). In fact, throughout the film, numerous references and styles from the Victorian era are seen in the Addams household. The modest black clothes, towering house and the decor are all from the Victorian and Edwardian era. The family has very few modern items or fixtures in the household (we see Debbie watching television).

---

Goofs

When Granny holds up Pubert in the police station, Pubert's makeup has very clearly rubbed off around his face, neck, and both hands.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Wednesday: [giving a funeral to a cat in a shoe-box] Come, sorrow; we welcome thee. Let us join in grief, rejoice in despair, and honor the fortunate dead.
Grandma: Dearly beloved...
Wednesday: [the cat mews and Wednesday shakes the box] Shh! Quiet!
Grandma: [starts piling dirt on the box]

---

Crazy Credits

Other than the title, there are no opening credits.

---

Alternate Versions

When Joel first enters the Harmony Hut to join Wednesday and Pugsley, after Gary takes his book away, he looks around and shrieks in horror to see a poster of Michael Jackson on the far wall. This part has been removed from some TV broadcasts.

---

Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Nicole Kidman/Stone Temple Pilots (1993)

---

Soundtracks

Do It Any Way You Wanna (It's on You)
by Leon Huff
Additional lyrics by Guru (as Keith Elam)
Performed by Guru (as Guru)
Produced by Ralph Sall
Guru performs courtesy of Chrysalis Records

User Reviews

Ricci rules

This is a film with several excellent performances, but that of Christina "Wednesday" Ricci is near perfect. The reluctant smile outside the "harmony hut" is Oscar material. And Christina as Pocahantas is the very definition of "cute".

Of the others, Joan Cusack also stands out. I doubt anyone else could play the part of "the black widow" quite as well, with just the right mix of sleaze and slapstick. Her deranged laughter alone is worth half the rental fee.

It may not be a classic but it is solid entertainment, with few if any weak passages. Go and see it!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 November 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Addams Family Values

Filming Locations:

Long Beach Airport - 4101 E. Donald Douglas Drive, Long Beach, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$47,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,117,545, 21 November 1993

Gross USA:

$48,919,043

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$48,919,043

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1