Addams Family Values

  • Review Date: April 10, 2005
  • PG-13
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 1993
 Review

Common Sense Media says

A dark comedy teens will love.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie takes the original Addams Family cast to its logical extreme -- and that means more violence (often involving newborn Pubert), more sexual innuendo, worse language and a lot of themes that are just too much for kids. Even so, the dialogue remains extremely witty.

  • Despite their strange clothes and quirky behavior the Addams family still love each other and that isn't diminished by all the weirdness. It also shows the importance of being true to yourself and never conforming to fit in with others.
  • Everyone's behavior is questionable -- the movie's humor relies on the Addams family's inverted values. But there's no doubt who the real villain is, and the family's macabre goings-on seem cozy compared to the mean-spirited outsiders.
  • Again, much more than in the first movie -- or perhaps it just feels more problematic, since a baby is often the intended victim.
  • A voluptuous villain has explicit sexual designs on Uncle Fester; seduction and discussions of virginity.

What's the story?

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.


Is it any good?

 

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.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how they deal with intrusions from outside their family.

  • Families can discuss a time when each family member maintained his or her values in the face of peer pressure.

  • The importance of staying true to yourself.


This review was written by Polly M. Robertus
Parent of 4, 7, 10, 13, 17, and 19 year old
September 29, 2009
 
Again!
Loved it as much as the first one!

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 12 years old
October 28, 2011
 
Cool Movie, Parents Watch Out
GOTHIC AND HILARIOUS! Even though it has some bad things in it is a AWESOME movie. Parents should watch for these things. I enjoyed the movies and so will children.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
August 12, 2009
 
Little Scary But gREAT!
It Was one of the best kids horror movies, and a little scary for me lol

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 12 years old
April 4, 2010
 
Okay
Besides having wednesday mention something pretty discusting, its ok if you think ur kids can handle it.

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 12 years old
August 17, 2011
 
You have to see this movie
This movie is sooooooo awesome you have to see it it's funny I spit my choclate milk out of my mouth it was so funny!,!!!

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
August 16, 2009
 
Hilarous movie
This is one of my favorite Adams family movie and there was barely anything that was major bad but like people it's a comedy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!They are only doing this stuff out of funny not really being rude.

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Adult
June 1, 2010
 
This movie, more than the other one promotes that being true to yourself will always be the right thing to do. Violence wise it's not appropriate for young children and it's especially scary when the baby is the intended target. Uncle Fester falls in love with a woman who is intent on hurting him and some sexual content is involved. There's more bad language in this movie than the other. Iffy for 13+

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 15 years old
December 18, 2011
 
Blondies are Dangerous
All I noticed was on their honeymoon. She was like, I'm gonna give myself to you and he was like oh yea. And I was kinda creeped out but whatever.

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Polly M. Robertus
Studio:Paramount Pictures
Director:Barry Sonnenfeld
Cast:Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci, Raul Julia
Genre:Comedy
Run time:94 minutes
Theatrical release date:November 19, 1993
DVD release date:August 29, 2000
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:macabre humor.

This review was written by Polly M. Robertus
 

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
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