The Addams Family 2 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

The Addams Family 2 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 16, 2024

2019’s “The Addams Family” wasn’t a great financial risk for the producers, but it remained something of a creative gamble, working with source material that’s been kicking around pop culture since 1938. Without a Pixar or DreamWorks Animation budget, “The Addams Family” invested in weirdness, trying to capture the dark tone of Charles Addams’s original cartoon creation while amplifying broad antics for younger audiences of today. It did well with limited resources, brought to life with color, exaggerated character designs, and a committed voice cast who inhabited their creepy, kooky characters superbly. The picture found success at the box office, and the producers weren’t going to sit on the possibility of a sequel, returning to screens just two years later with “The Addams Family 2,” which tries to push the odd household dynamic into the everyday world, presenting a road trip premise that works well for these creations, combining interstate antics with weird science concerns.

Wednesday Addams (voiced by Chloe Grace Moretz) is a brilliant child who’s always felt out of place in her family, watching brother Pugsley (Javon Walton) become more of a physical force of nature, while her parents, Morticia (Charlize Theron) and Gomez (Oscar Isaac), remain dedicated to love, especially with anything grotesque. Experimenting with a DNA-altering serum, Wednesday mixes essence from her pet octopus with Uncle Fester (Nick Kroll), creating an intelligent monster that inspires interest from rich scientist, Cyrus Strange (Bill Hader). Sensing his daughter is pulling away from the family, Gomez plans a road trip for his loved ones, packing up a camper and setting out to see the United States. During this adventure, the household is tailed by Strange’s father, Rupert (Wallace Shawn), who wants to collect Wednesday and bring her to the science icon, informing a girl who’s never felt at home with her family that Cyrus Strange is her real father.

The first film offered subplots for most of the characters, but generally followed Pugsley’s battle against tradition and maturity for a plot, presenting Gomez with his explosive personality, allowing the father a chance to evolve and accept his children the way they are, making them special members of the Addams family. The sequel sends Pugsley away with puberty blues (taking lessons on love from Uncle Fester and his self-published book on romance), making more time for Wednesday, arguably the least interesting member of the household. The morbid child and her brilliant mind are the focus of “The Addams Family 2,” with her DNA cocktail becoming the centerpiece of her school’s science fair, attracting attention from Strange, who only joins the tale in the final act, leaving the rest of the writing to road trip events. Gomez is desperate to spend quality time with his daughter, putting Pugsley, Uncle Fester, Morticia, Kitty Kat, Thing, and Michael Shannon…er, I mean Lurch, into a massive camper for a bonding trip to end all bonding trips, crossing America while Grandmama (Bette Midler) takes care of the family home.

“The Addams Family” was largely contained to interiors, exploring a bizarre living experience from multiple perspectives. “The Addams Family 2” ventures out into the world, following the camper as it makes multiple stops across the country, connecting the Addams and their strange ways with American life. The gang visits Niagara Falls, with Gomez desperate to experience a barrel ride. In Miami, Cousin Itt (Snoop Dogg) tags along for a few adventures. And in Death Valley, a biker gang threatens violence, only to be won over by Lurch’s gorgeous singing voice at a bar. It’s episodic but amusing, emphasizing the special oddity of the family as members create havoc wherever they go, with Pugsley managing to blow up the Grand Canyon just for kicks. Plot kicks in every now and then, finding Rupert trying to catch up to the family, assisted by hulking enforcer Pongo. And there’s Wednesday and her developing doubt, exposed to a potential reality where she’s not the daughter of Morticia and Gomez, warming to the idea of being Strange’s kid, suddenly celebrated (and exploited) for her brilliance.

The Addams Family 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray

The Dolby Vision presentation for "The Addams Family 2" deals with a different feel for color than the first movie. The production enjoys more locations and chaotic situations this time around, offering bright outdoor spaces with vivid exterior lighting and hues, creating memorable looks at southwest and California stops. Purple smoke emitted by the camper is also distinct. Weird science additions are equally intense, delivering glowing greens and reds throughout the viewing experience. Character designs retain deeper blacks and grays, while supporting additions maintain lively primaries. Highlights are tasteful. Detail retains the digital textures of the animation, also preserving the distances of the American stops on the road trip. Interior additions are also open for study. Compression issues are more noticeable on the sequel, which is hit a little harder by periodic banding.

The Addams Family 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 7.1 DTS-HD MA mix secures clean dialogue exchanges, handling accents and craziness from certain characters, never falling into unintelligibility. Scoring cues are fresh and wide, with crisp instrumentation. Soundtrack selections are also defined, with sharp vocals. Surrounds remains active, exploring musical options and atmospherics, with a few panning effects along the way, adding some immersive elements. Sound effects are distinct and active. Low-end rumbles with explosive events and bigger bass.

The Addams Family 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "We're Altogether Addams" (8:51, HD) is basic overview of characterization and production effort, featuring interviews with producer Danielle Sterling, director Conrad Vernon, and actors Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloe Grace Moretz, Nick Kroll, Bill Hader, and Javon Walton. The interviewee share their fondness for "The Addams Family" and detail performance choices used to get into the weirdness of it all. Some BTS footage is included, showing life in the recording booth.

• "Courage to Be Kooky" (2:41, HD) is a brief overview of characters and themes from "The Addams Family 2," featuring interviews with director Conrad Vernon, actors Oscar Isaac, Chloe Grace Moretz, Nick Kroll, Bill Hader, and Charlize Theron.

• "Road Trip Checklist" (4:04, HD) is a live-action overview of essentials to bring on any vacation, including a recipe for a snack known as "Fruit Monsters." Instructions are also provided for "Going to the Crypt," a car game.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:15, HD) is included.

The Addams Family 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The whole switched-at-birth element of "The Addams Family 2" isn't entirely successful, trying to build to a grand finale filled with action and perversions of science, hoping to end the feature on an epic note it doesn't need. The sequel does A-OK studying the Addams and their cheerfully macabre behaviors, creeping out their fellow Americans as they explore the country, offering engaging, colorful slapstick and delightful performances along the way. "The Addams Family 2" tries to be sincere with its pursuit of Wednesday's identity, but it's much more inviting as a celebration of Addams's work, updated into bite-sized bits of silliness and good-natured ghastliness.