Addams Family Values (PG-13, 1993)

The Addams Family is back in this sequel in which the children's jealousy of new baby brother Pubert leads to the hiring of an evil nanny named Debby (Joan Cusack) with designs on Uncle Fester (Christina Ricci) and Pugsley (Jimmy Workman) sent to a snobbish summer camp and marries Fester, things look grim. Finally, Debby the nanny is exposed, the children get to come home, and Pubert becomes his old Addams self again.

More complex and just as witty as the first film, Addams Family Values is also more disturbingly violent and sexually insinuating -- too much so for the youngest ones who might enjoy the first movie. Joan Cusack is marvelous as the greedy black widow and the addition of Pubert to the family offers a lot of laughs, especially when we learn how much his parents are enjoying Morticia's painful labor. However, a lot of violent action (with too-near misses) involves him, and some parents might feel uncomfortable with it.

The scenes at camp are among the movie's cleverest. Youngsters who have felt isolated at camp will identify entirely as misfits Wednesday and Pugsley struggle in a world of conformist blond snobs. Although the action here occasionally drags, the other campers and the enthusiastic, uncomprehending counselors make great foils for the Addams children's macabre revenge. Again, some parents might find that the humor goes unnecessarily far. And it's a satisfying relief when the family members are reunited, and return to their bleakly cozy mansion.

Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Cast: Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci, Raul Julia
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 94 minutes
Theatrical release: November 19, 1993
DVD release: August 29, 2000
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: macabre humor.