Every generation has its own version of it The Addams Family. Be it thecomics that started it, the 1960s TV series or the later movie series. Theattempts to bring the dark, very rich family back to the man were not alwayssuccessful over the years. Netflix is now changing that Wednesday , aseries about the daughter of the family. She is welcomed with open arms.
“There is always danger in reinterpreting a beloved pop culture institutionlike The Addams Family. But Wednesday is brilliant on every level. Thecharacter doesn’t have to worry about her reputation being smeared,” concludes_The Los Angeles Times_ in a rave review of the new series, half of which TimBurton directed. The reviews range from moderately positive to outrageous,which is certainly not true of all reincarnations of The Addams Family canbe said.
Wednesday revolves around Wednesday Addams, the daughter of the famous andinfamous family. After being expelled from school for an attack on her brotherPugsley’s bullies, she is sent to boarding school. At this school full ofmonstrous misfits, she witnesses multiple murders. Jenna Ortega, who you mayknow from the second season of You or the movie scream 5 takes the leadingrole.
Started as a comic strip, popularized in sitcom
The public is first introduced to The Addams Family in 1938. The family wascreated by cartoonist Charles Addams as a satire on the supposedly perfectAmerican family of the twentieth century. At the time, the comics were mainlypublished in The New Yorkers.
The family achieved great popularity in the 1960s, when the comic book serieswas turned into a sitcom. The comic series, which was still shot in black andwhite, sets the standard for all film adaptations and adaptations that appearlater. The series grows into a cultural phenomenon and has still not beenforgotten in 2022.
After the many reruns of the series, new Addams Family content appears in1973. Then begins an animated series that is also named _The Addams Family_wear. However, it remains with one season and the cultural status of thesitcom is absolutely unmatched.
The cast from 1964’s The Addams Family.
Photo: Getty Images
Introduction to the cinema
In the 1990s there was a more successful revival of The Addams Family – thistime not in the living room, but in the cinema room. The film was released in1991 starring Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia and Christina Ricci, among others.The film is a huge financial success and brings in no less than 191 milliondollars.
The reviews are just not that positive. The acting and visual effects arepraised, but the script falls short, is the conclusion. The sequel followed in1993 Addam ‘s Family Values, which does significantly less commercially($111 million), but receives slightly better reviews. The films are stillregularly seen and have gained a place in pop culture in the form of gifs andfamous one-liners.
Christina Ricci played the role of Wednesday Addams in the 1991 film.
Photo: BrunoPress
From animation to Netflix
In 2019, filmmakers Conrad Vernon and Greg Tieman are trying to revive thefranchise with an animated film. The film makes a profit of more than 200million dollars, so a sequel cannot be missed.
But the reviewers are less enthusiastic about it. Both films are particularlypraised for the voice cast featuring celebrities Charlize Theron and BetteMidler. But critics say the films add little to the stories already told aboutAmerica’s favorite misfit family.
It seems that the Addams family with Wednesday finally has a success on allfronts again. The makers have chosen not to elaborate on well-known stories.Instead, one character is now the focus, and moreover not in the well-knownsetting of the haunted house where the family lives.
That pays off by landing in first place in the list of best viewed content onNetflix within a few days, high ratings on film sites such as IMDb and, aboveall, critical acclaim.
Unfortunately, this content cannot be displayedWe do not have permission forthe necessary cookies. Accept the cookies to view this content.