Search - The Addams Family on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Violence, Questionable for Children, Adult Humor Movie Release: 1991 DVD Release: 02/22/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 39 mins Studio: Paramount Members Wishing: 0 Genres: Comedy, Black Comedy, Domestic Comedy

Inspired more by the 1960s TV series than by the original Charles Addams New Yorker cartoons, The Addams Family proved to be one of the more successful of the TV shows-turned-movies of the 1990s. The film opens on a recreation of the magazine cartoon wherein the ghoulish Addamses prepare to pour hot oil upon a group of merry Christmas carolers. After a series of vignettes which establish the characters of Gomez (Raul Julia), Morticia (Anjelica Huston), Wednesday (Christina Ricci), Pugsley (Jimmy Workman) and family servants Lurch (Carel Struycken) and Thing (Christopher Hart), the plot proper gets under way. A stranger, played by Christopher Lloyd, shows up on the Addams doorstep, claiming to be long-lost Uncle Fester. It appears, however, that Lloyd is a ringer, in cahoots with attorney Tully Alford (Dan Hedaya) to strip the Addamses of their fortune. In their usual against-the-grain fashion, the Addams Family seems to delight in the possibility that they're being hoodwinked-indeed, not even kidnapping or death threats dampen the Addams clan's joy of living (or should we say dying?). The Addams Family served as the directorial debut of cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Anjelica Huston - Morticia Addams
Raul Julia - Gomez Addams
Christopher Lloyd - Gordon Craven
Dan Hedaya - Tully Alford
Elizabeth Wilson - Abigail Craven

They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky, and they're on DVD! The Addams Family is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen which looks very bold and clear. Defects in the picture are at a bare minimum, including only a slight amount of edge enhancement during the feature. Paramount has done a very nice job on this transfer which should please fans of the weird and grotesque family. The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and is very well-mixed. Directional sounds are used to provide ambience and background while the dialogue, effects, and music are all clear of any hiss or distortion. Also included on this disc is a Dolby Digital 2.0 in English soundtrack without any subtitles. Unfortunately, fans of this series will be sorely disappointed at the lack of extra features on this disc. The only bonus Paramount has seen fit to provide is a theatrical trailer for The Addams Family, and that's it. Certainly a commentary track by Barry Sonnenfeld or some of the cast and crew would have been welcomed, but for now a special edition will just be wishful thinking. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide