In the small but fascinating canon of sequels that are better than the originals, Addams Family Values is one of the definitive examples. Barry Sonnenfeld, as I wrote in the previous review, did exceptionally well in bringing Charles Addams’ timeless creations to the screen in The Addams Family, and two years later seemed to not only recapture the same grim magic, but actively improved on it, streamlining many of the most admirable qualities while eliding the minor problems that caused the film to not quite reach its full potential. The result is an outrageous, funny and often very heartfelt comedy about family that is as macabre as it is deeply entertaining, with the director once again taking us on a voyage into the home of one of literature’s most adorable clan of eccentrics as they go on yet another series of adventures that see them in precarious situations where danger isn’t necessarily avoided, but sometimes even highly encouraged. Addams Family Values is a near-perfect comedy, and while there are still too many plot loopholes that it gleefully jumps through, this is all rendered entirely counterproductive when we realize how this is a film constructed simply out of a concerted effort to have some fun – and despite taking some daring choices in terms of how it puts its story together (once again having to find enough material from the paltry source material, which often took up a few frames or 22-minutes of television, to justify a feature-length film), Sonnenfeld triumphs quite regularly, particularly when we take this film as a whole, rather than getting too preoccupied with the minor details.

At the forefront of this film is an aspect that was present in the previous one, albeit not quite as prominently as it is here – so it only makes sense that we should discuss it at the outset here, because the area in which Addams Family Values improves the most is in its characters. Previously, the ensemble was very good, but were often secondary to the more bombastic filmmaking and the ideas that underpinned the story. Here, they’re front and centre, squarely the focus of many of the most memorable parts of the film. Raúl Julia is as captivating as ever in the role of Gomez, perhaps being shifted to the background far too often (there’s a stretch of the film where he almost entirely disappears), but still commanding the screen with the idiosyncratic charm he was so beloved for demonstrating. Anjelica Huston is also dipping from her endless well of sophistication, playing Morticia with a wry smile and devilish glimmer in her eyes, being as mesmerizing a presence as ever. However, the two most interesting performances in Addams Family Values come from two slightly smaller parts – Christina Ricci reprises her role as Wednesday Addams, and while she was more comic relief in the first film, everyone seems to have woken up to her brilliance, as her blend of youthful innocence and unconventional stoicism made her performance as the stone-faced, cynical Wednesday all the more compelling. She’s the heart of the film, and perhaps the character we’re most invested in. Conversely, Joan Cusack is often cited as the most memorable part of the film, and for good reason – she’s an absolute riot, playing the malicious Debbie with a kind of unhinged insanity that is very much against type from the more wholesome, oblivious characters she normally plays. Cusack steals the film nearly every scene she is on screen, and manages to sell us on the pure malice underpinning this character.

Naturally, we can’t look at Addams Family Values without remarking on how Sonnenfeld evokes some of the more complex themes that are somewhat unexpected from a film of this nature. Occurring between the more imperfect The Addams Family, and the ill-fated Addams Family Reunion (which is itself detached from this series, both formally and in terms of its merit), both of which were more aimed at children, this film is more insistent on a kind of risque humour that doesn’t necessarily make it inappropriate, but rather sees a move towards more adult-oriented filmmaking – some may see this as something of a flaw (even if the bawdy material is only briefly mentioned, and in a way that is far more innocent than most would have you believe), but when you’re adapting a property that has the rare distinction of being both family-friendly and uncompromisingly dark, you can’t necessarily fault the film for trying to find the best of both worlds. Sonnenfeld achieves a tone that may be slightly less balanced than what he did previously, but rather manages to find common ground on both fronts, which works spectacularly well when we consider the film as a singular piece, rather than a series of sub-plots. The moment we become too focused on the details is the one where the fabric of the film begins to erode – this isn’t one constructed out of the pursuit of perfection, but rather the rabid quest for something memorable, where ambition supersedes flawlessness. For most films, this wouldn’t work – but Addams Family Values is so audacious from beginning to end, we can easily understand exactly why such an approach was taken, especially when the result is something as captivating as it ended up being, and where the minor problems are entirely forgettable by the end.

Sonnenfeld knew where he was going with this film, so the delight comes in seeing the route he took to get there. Once again, the production of this film is impeccable – the set design, costumes and cinematography all plays a part in manifesting the delectable brilliance underpinning the film. Perhaps its not the creative coup d’etat that the previous film was, but rather one that develops on many of these ideas, which it does through expanding the world it takes place in. Shifting away from the Addams’ mansion, and opening up the locations, the director manages to persuade us into caring even more for these characters, since seeing them in various other situations makes them so much more compelling. Encountering the expected obstacles in terms of the plot, Addams Family Values makes up for it with a more devil-may-care approach to the creativity, taking on a wealth of ideas that simply would not have worked nearly as well had they not been executed with such audacious precision – we’re naturally drawn to the over-the-top performances and irreverent humour, but what really captures our attention is the director’s consistent efforts to make the experience of watching this film not only entertaining on a thematic level, but also visually-striking at the same time. Once again, it doesn’t necessarily hold much credence in regards to its direction – we know exactly where this is leading, as we can see the twists and turns from miles away, but where it finds value is in how it subverts the expectations that we’d have from less-obvious moments, with some jokes taking a much darker turn, and a few clever uses of pitch-black humour where a more traditional bit of comedy would normally suffice.

When combined with the stunning creativity that persists throughout, makes for a very compelling film that is intent on having some fun without taking too much away from the expectations of the viewer, who enter into this film anticipating a certain kind of entertainment, which is delivered in abundance. Sonnenfeld doesn’t always get the credit he deserves, especially when it comes to his 1990s output, where he worked in the realm of horror (The Addams Family), crime thriller (Get Shorty) and science fiction (Men in Black), where he essentially helped shape distinct entries into each genre, blending them with the right amount of pathos and humour to create unforgettable works – and considering everything he has done as a director, nothing quite matches what he did with this film and its predecessor. Beautifully-made, but not too weighed down by its own overt ambitions,  Addams Family Values is a very charming film that takes some time to get to the point, but is so effortlessly enjoyable on the way. It’s not a major work in the grander scheme – it’s a quaint and eccentric comedy that thrives on the macabre, and not much else. However, this doesn’t mean one needs to disparage this film as well, since within its own sub-genre, it’s absolutely exceptional – nearly void of any discernible flaws outside of its leaps of logic when it comes to the narrative, and supported by a genuinely interesting premise and some marvellous performances, Addams Family Values is a perfectly-diverting bit of entertainment that never wavers from its more direct intentions, and manages to be so wonderfully compelling in a multitude of ways.