DVD Review - Addams Family Values

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Site created 12/15/97.

review added: 4/12/00

Addams Family Values
1993 (1999) - Paramount

review by Brad Pilcher of The Digital Bits

Enhanced for 16x9 TVs

Film Rating: B-

Disc Ratings (Video/Audio/Extras): C+/B/C

Specs and Features

94 mins, PG-13, letterboxed widescreen (1.85:1), 16x9 enhanced, single-sided, single-layered, Amaray keep case packaging, 2 theatrical trailers, film-themed menu screens, scene access (16 chapters), languages: English (DD 5.1 & 2.0), subtitles: English, Closed Captioned

"You'll meet someone. Someone very special. Someone who won't press charges."

The Addamses are back in Addams Family Values and they have a new baby, Pubert, along for the ride. Picking up nine months after the first film, we open with the birth of the baby. Sensing the need for some assistance, Gomez and Morticia hire a nanny. Unfortunately, she happens to be a homicidal maniac interested in marrying Fester and then killing him for his money. The added subplot of Pugsley and Wednesday (played by Christina Ricci who really shines here) going off to summer camp brings that much more hilarity to the film.

This sequel isn't quite as good as the original, but it's still a fun romp through the macabre. In all honesty, this film would have flopped had it not been for Ricci's stellar deadpan. The fish-out-of-water situation she's tossed in gives her a chance to really blow the roof off the role. Meanwhile, back at the Addams residence, we get an amusing (but not quite as good) tale involving Fester's seduction and attempted assassination.

The video on this disc is quite disappointing compared to the disc for The Addams Family. The first scene shows some atrocious grain, and it goes on through the whole film, though not at that wretched level. The black levels are appropriate, but a little too much at times. The colors oversaturate a few times in the summer camp scenes, but this is the least of the complaints on the video side. Granted, it could be worse and I'm really singling out some particular portions, but those portions can be really bad and it pulls you right out of the viewing experience. The audio, however, is good and solid, with a sufficiently encompassing field. Just as on the disc for The Addams Family, the only extras we have are two trailers.

To any fan of The Addams Family, this is a disc easily worth purchasing. The video, which could be much better, is the only major detraction from an otherwise good disc. And fans of Christina Ricci will really appreciate her wonderful performance here. So snap your fingers, hum a few bars of that catchy little tune and pick this title up.

Brad Pilcher
bradpilcher@thedigitalbits.com