Tonight we dance the Mumushka! Pop Punk Radio's Halloween Movie Fest 2014 is back with a selection from the Spooky Fun category,
The Addams Family from 1991. The movie was created from a popular cartoon and tv series from the 30s and 60s respectively, however the two films created in the early 90s are by far the best adaptations. For the purposes of this review we are focusing solely on the first of those two films.
The film revolves around the relationship between the two Addams brothers, Fester (played by Christopher Lloyd) and Gomez (the late Raul Julia). At the beginning of the film we find a distraught Gomez lamenting his brother's disappearance following a dispute of some sort. We also discover that the family's lawyer is in debt to a loan shark. The lawyer discovers that the loan shark's son Gordon looks identical to Fester and the three concoct a scheme to disguise Gordon as Fester in order to infiltrate the Addams family's vault. The rest of the movie focuses on Gordon's attempts to gain the family's trust while the family experience mixed emotions regarding whether or not their long lost Uncle Fester is truly part of the family.
The Addams Family is enjoyable to watch for many reasons. The family's horrific and unorthodox way of life makes for endless cheesy puns and gags such as the children's various deadly games of sibling torture - to the parent's approval of such hi-jinks.
To those who never experienced the joy of having an older sister while growing up, the look on Wednesday's face at 0:35 is all you need to know.
Nothing makes this film more memorable than the performances by the cast which truly bring the characters to life. Christopher Lloyd is his usual brilliant and zany self. It's funny to see him play a bald man when many of us remember him as a crazy haired scientist from the Back To The Future movies. Christopher Hart does a noticeably amazing job of projecting emotion and humor with only the use of his hand (as Thing, the family... pet?). While the late Raul Julia left the world with a performance of Gomez Addams that will NEVER be beaten when they attempt to revive the series on Broadway in 2020. (Get it? Because the cartoon came out in the 30s, the tv show in the 60s, the movies in the 90s... ok, it's a lame joke but we're making it anyway.)
One of the more memorable, and pivotal scenes in the movie is when Fester and Gomez dance the Mumushka. An Addams' family tradition since "God knows when."
If you haven't seen
The Addams Family or the sequel
The Addams Family Values, make time for yourself this Halloween to check them both out. You won't be disappointed.
However, we can't say that you will feel the same about this:
Read more of Pop Punk Radio's Halloween Movie Fest 2014 reviews: here
