The Addams Family 2

The animated sequel “The Addams Family 2,” released at the beginning of this month in theaters and on Video On Demand, improves on the previous film similarly to how “Addams Family Values” did to the first live-action film. Sean P. Means said in his review, “Maybe movies about the ghoulish Addams Family work like the old “Star Trek” franchise, where the even-numbered ones were the good ones.”

Means noted, “Like “Addams Family Values,” the animated sequel centers on someone trying to exploit a rift within the solid-as-a-gravestone cohesion of the Addams clan.” This time, it’s middle-school intelligent Wednesday (Chloe Grace Moretz), feeling overwhelmed by the loving attention of her father, Gomez (Oscar Isaac), as she demonstrates her science-fair project – attaching the intelligence of her pet squid, Socrates, into her vacuous Uncle Fester (Nick Kroll).

The science fair is a disappointment for Wednesday, because Gomez and Morticia, voiced by Charlize Theron, appear, and because the powers that want everyone a winner. Wednesday is moderated kind of when Cyrus Strange, voiced by Bill Hader, the tech billionaire who sponsors the science fair, credits her originality and intelligence.

Means says, “A fretful Gomez grasps at straws to find a way to bond with his precious daughter, landing on the idea of a cross-country family vacation.” Wednesday hates the idea, but is soon dragged into Gomez’ desperate attempts to create some bonding time at famous tourist attracts like Salem, Mass., Niagara Falls and Death Valley. What Wednesday doesn’t know is that Gomez is also hiding something on this trip: The claims of a lawyer, voiced by Wallace Shawan, representing an unknown client, who believes Wednesday was switched for another baby in the maternity ward.

As the family drives their fearsome RV across the country, Wednesday enjoys herself by torturing her brother, Pugsley (Javon “Wanna” Walton), while Fester finds out Wednesday’s squid experiment has some surprising side effects.

Directors Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon find so much good humor in the creepiness of this eccentric family, and the script (by Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit) carves Wednesday’s isolation trouble for some genuinely funny moments. The writers also sprinkle the narrative with jokes that might go over the children’s heads, but land rightfully with the adult viewers. For example, the signpost in Death Valley, pointing to famous slasher-film locations like Crystal Lake and Elm Street.

“The Addams Family 2” isn’t as funny as Paul Rudnick’s satirical script of “Addams Family Values” was. But it does show signs of fun and silliness that the first animated film didn’t have, and proves that there may be some life in this franchise that we all thought was buried.

For those who actually liked the first animated movie, you should see this. If you don’t feel comfortable seeing this in theaters, you can easily watch this On Demand, since that’s what I did. Check this out with the whole family and you will enjoy it, I assure you.

Alright everyone, we have now come to the end of “Addams Family Month.” I hope all of you enjoyed it, as I felt they perfectly fit with Halloween. Hopefully all of you will check out most of the films in the franchise this month, as I think most of them people will enjoy it.

Look out next month to see what other excitement I will review.