The very first movie I worked on! I was in the lighting dept. And yes, these were all made in one block of 1997/98: Caspar was shot first, then this, then Richie Rich, then Men in White (an MiB spoof). “Thrifty” is the Saban way; you can see the foyer set (7:30 & 27:22 - the stairs, checkerboard landing, front door, and porch "exterior") redressed in all those productions, and we had to build smaller sets inside that one to save space. The top of the foyer stairs was a false nook and a good hideaway at lunch or if hungover 😉 You lampoon the cover but it’s proportional to real life. Tim Curry was quite short and Carel Struycken was staggeringly tall. That’s the gag of course but several shots had Mr. Curry standing on an apple box so the height difference didn’t make shot composition TOO ridiculous. The pool scene stands out as my favorite to work on, and Mr. Struycken really enjoyed lounging about in the water, until the sun went down 😂 then we needed to blast the area in lights to recreate daytime. No actor likes too many lights on them and, since it was January, the pool got cold. Even pools in Pasadena get cold at night! Tim Curry was wonderful to watch, by the way. Alone of the cast, he was given free rein to improvise. He didn’t do it much but when he did, it killed. I’ve never actually watched these movies (who watched the Family Channel back then?!) but I hope some of his riffs made it here.
@@phelouswell, one other “thrifty” uniting factor in the Saban films I worked on was the quality of the writing. I don’t necessarily blame the writers themselves; it’s clear the Mikes (producers Upton and Elliott) wanted “silly and kiddie” material that was cheap to film. It didn’t need to make sense, and seldom did 🤷🏻♂️ The only other actor I remember improvising on their shoots was Tom Wilson in Men in White, who was hysterical. A really great guy. I •did• watch that movie and was dismayed to see most of his ad-libs were cut. Also: I wasn’t privy to Ed Begley’s tennis prowess or costuming demands, but he WAS famous for driving an electric car (his Simpsons moment made fun of that). He drove himself to the resort set and a few of us talked to him about his fancy ‘lectric ride. Even in L.A., they were a rarity back then. Perhaps in response to that, while at the resort we had to park far away and ride a van in but the transpo dept. told everyone to leave the gas doors open on our personal cars. They brought a tanker truck around to fill us up ⛽️ I’ve often wondered why. Tankers are only seen on really driving intensive shoots, which this was not, and giving away hundreds of gallons of gas to the crew is NOT the Saban way! 😂
@@AllisonPregler absolutely! Really enjoyed the video ☺️ If you guys decide to cover Richie Rich Christmas Wish (or Men in White-I highly recommend that one, it’s peak Saban crap, you’d have plenty to talk about!), I can furnish some tidbits. Like how Richie’s “house” was IRL a swanky hotel, the owners of which got reaaaaally mad when production sprayed fire foam “snow” on the grounds and killed the entire lawn 😂
For the longest time, I always thought the girl who played Wednesday Addams in this movie was the same girl who played that forensics girl Abby from NCIS.
That Turtles 3 joke is made much more wholesome if you see it as Donny realizing he started a joke without a punchline prepared. So when he says the first thing that pops in his head and beefs the delivery, Ralph and Mikey, without any prompting, decide to back him up because they’re good brothers.
I fell asleep while watching this movie as a kid. I dreamt a much more thrilling plotline involving a murder mystery that Wednesday and Pugsley either solved or caused.
Honestly seeing how both Allison as well as Phelous treat such things as lofty goals as well as realistic end results gives my wife and I hope! The Addams family may have had diminishing returns but the banter between Allison and You makes up for it, Phelan! 😊
The best part is the beginning when it’s just the same actors from the movie playing Lurch and Thing and for a second it feels like a long lost Addams Family 3 we never got but then the rest of the movie happens and ruins it.
I thought I imagined this movie, or was misremembering parts from the other two. Then you showed the guys singing the intro and I definitely remember that. We must have rented the VHS once at Blockbuster lmao.
I could see why they went with Tim Curry for this role. Raul Julia's performances in the two prior Addams movies didn't really come off as "I'm a PR guy playing a man named Gomez" so much as his Gomez feeling like a swarthy European, which is something Tim can do- at least when he's not taking Communism into the one place that hasn't been corrupted by Capitalism; Space!
To be fair, the Late Green Ranger JDF said in an interview about Haim Saban during the MMPR years.. "(he) was really cheap." I mean Even his green ranger Dragon armor was cloth during the non-stock footage scenes, Haim wouldn't shell out the $ to have the Sentai Studio to craft a replica for JDF. (Even though They had the $$ to hire the Sentai studio to make new fight scenes with the Tiger, Ninja, and Shogun ultrazords using Titanus instead of Tor.)
If I'm not mistaken, this was supposed to be a direct sequel to The Addams Family Values, but like you mentioned, the original movie cast didn't want to do this movie without Raul Julia. So, they decided to do the movie anyway with a new cast. But, I wasn't aware of the movie being a sort of pilot to the Fox Kids show. Part of that is because I saw the show first in the late 90s the movie years later on Fox Family in the early 2000s. I didn't even realize that Wednesday was played by the same person in both of those. Anyway, this movie bored me to tears, but Tim Curry was the only enjoyable thing about it.
I get upset every time I remember this movie exists. 😂 Seriously, I feel the immediate need to rewatch the earlier movies just to be sure I ever liked the Addams Family.
Sadly, I think Tim Curry did a far better job in Home Alone 2 & Congo than this movie. Thankfully he was able to voice Nigel Thornberry in just a few years.
Tim Curry always put his best in everything he does, even if the material is not good. (See the IT miniseries (1990) and beauty and the beast enchanted Christmas
the Addams go to the reunion and Grandma says"Meet your Great-Aunt Rita she's been on the moon for 10 thousand years!" Rita says "It's nice to have a holiday from battling those power rangers but this red wine is giving me such a headache!"
The way me, my sister, and my cousin watched THE HELL out of the video store rental copy of this film was reawakened when I saw this video on my feed. Your commentary on this film made me laugh SO HARD. Like, this movie is so awful and so good at the same time?? I still hold this movie fondly in my heart as much as the 2 OG theatrical releases.
I'd love for there to be an episode by episode recap of the New Addams Family, similar to what you've done with series in the past (Konquest, Next Mutation, etc)
I remember seeing this VHS at the rental place as a kid and thinking "Oh! I didn't know there was a new movie! I like Addams Family, I like Tim Curry!" But never actually got it. Bullet dodged.
I'll admit, The New Addams Family is a bit nostalgic to me because it was the first Addams Family I ever really saw other than a vague memory of the second cartoon and knowing the famous theme song. As a kid I had no idea the 60s sitcom had been a thing and just assumed the cartoon I'd once seen was the original Addams Family. The deranged mambo theme song from TNAF lives rent-free in my brain too. 🎶 POOW! Cha-cha-cha! SNAP SNAP! Never saw this movie though.
This movie was sadly the first Addams Family movie I saw when I was a kid. I didn’t see the first two movies until much later in life because I didn’t even know of their existence.
To be fair to Tim Curry, I'm sure being some character in Monk was still a better career choice than the worst Gomez Addams who doesn't even get material to work it and Garfield: A tale of two kitties
Well, remember, Saban made a ton of money off of Power Rangers, and established early that they'd be using non-union actors, so they could pay non-union pay scale. Which is why there have been so many "Teams" of Power Rangers. Original Power Rangers: "Could we get more then $600 a week, please? You're making Milliions." Saban Executives: "You're Fired. Can we come up with an excuse why the left in the Show?" Saban Writers: "How about they left for College?" Saban Executives: "Works for me."
Certainly would have made more sense than freaking power rangers in space....ok I don't really know about that but at least i wouldn't be reminded of that godawful show everytime i rewatch my favorite season
The thing is, you can do the whole "movie is essentially a remake of the first movie," Addam's Family->Addam's Family Values is like Evil Dead->Evil Dead 2. This is like one of those Italian knock-off sequels that's called "Evil Dead 5" in Italy and "Zombie Deadfest" in English-speaking countries.
Why can't the ending be when the Great-Grandparents came back to the Addams house and they turn back to their old selves after surviving the explosion since it turns to be the cure for the whartzimers?
If you want something actually good that stars both Ed Begley Jr. and Tim Curry, I strongly recommend the Tales From The Crypt episode "Death of Some Salesman." It's awesome.
I know I've seen this movie; I know I own the VHS (for some reason), and yet, watching this I found that the ONLY thing I remembered about this was "that made for TV movie with Tim Curry as Gomez". Also, how could they not have a bit with the hair eating dog meeting cousin Itt? It seems like such an obvious set up, though I'm not sure what you could do with it since you can't show under Itt's hair. Maybe a bit where they find the dog and Itt's hat together and think the dog ate all of Itt, then some payoff with finding Itt later?
I hate how similar this movie’s title is to Family Values. I keep getting mad that people seem to be dissing one of the best AF adaptations ever only to double-check and go “Oh”.
I watched this ages ago as a kid during my Addams Family hyperfixation phase and I dont think I finished it, even in the throes of of me consuming EVERYTHING Addams. I wonder if Tim Curry was trying to do sort of a Moira Rose in Schitts Creek- ie someone with a weird mix of several accents. But Moira makes it work because its never really entirely identifiable as anything. Curry in this is just a bit random. And PS- Yes, the morticia in new addams family was baffling.
PS Im so glad you gave your opinions on New Addams Family. Its an often forgotten sitcom and I find it so utterly bizarre that it kind of fascinates me
Tim Curry on paper sounds like the best man for the job yet no one can out shines Raul Julia as Gomez although I will say he is the one bright spot for this film but you can tell he is just barely giving a effort
That's how I'd keep Pugsley relevant; play up his being a junior mad scientist and a shameless hellion, like in the _Nee Yorker_ cartoons; bring back the boy who led a revolt in kindergarten, who spent his Christmas break setting up bloody warnings to Santa after a bad haul, who had to be sent home from camp in a pet carrier. In short, make him the loud and rambunctious foil to Wednesday's sardonic stoicism. Like his old man.
This film must have been seriously buried because for the longest time I didn't realize it even existed. I might have heard it mentioned offhand once and I assumed they were talking about Addams Family Values, because even though I saw Values on TV a lot as a kid, I didn't know what it was actually called.
It almost sounds like the "grandparents turn normal" bit was designed with the assumption they'd have the original Gomez (or at least, a recognizable former Gomez) back. Maybe a Morticia, too? Then the joke would be you're watching these original actors playing normal people instead of Addams? But then they didn't get any of them back and went with the bit anyway. Which falls completely flat.
I had no idea this existed 😮looks pretty decent. You gotta remember back in the 90’s you didn’t have streaming 😂I was happy to see anything that wasn’t a rerun of Good Times or Family Ties
Oh god! I'm having flashbacks to when this film was ALWAYS on Sky Pretty sure it showed up on Cartoon Network (or Fox Kids. I can't remember) every Sunday and every other day during the summer holidays! Okay, it wasn't on that much but they showed this film on Sky TV when I was in my late teens, before I headed off to university. Only decent part about this film was Tim Curry although there were some cute lines. Walter Adams: "You look like you've been to Hell and back!" Morticia (flattered): "Oh, you're just saying that." And banging Lurch's grave to the Addams Family theme tune was cute too.
I wish this movie was a movie adaptation of Fester’s Quest: I’d watch that! I mean if you’re gonna let Saban handle an Addams Family Project it might as well stick to format and feature characters fighting aliens and cartoon slapstick
7:53 - Director wanted a "dark and edgy" version of the theme song... Production Company: Well, we can't afford "edgy" so let's meet half way and just go with "dark" instead. - Hires a bunch of black guys from the 1980s (I hope) to make what is possibly the most ill-fitting theme song ever created.
I just realized the woman from the other Adams family played Sister Beech in the Nick Cage "Wicker Man". I don't have a joke for this, I'm just reminded of a better bad movie
I’ve never heard about this movie until 2019 and man I love Tim Curry (and he did the best job he could) but he’s no Raul Julia and Daryl Hannah is one of the biggest miscasting I know of
Ah, I liked the The New Addams Family show. Was a teen when it was on fox kids. It wasn't bad, but I appreciate it. I also loved this Wednesday actress the most in the role, but since my first Addams Family connection was the second cartoon on Cartoon Network I always hated making Pugsley into a scared and meak boy when the one from the cartoon was a crazy masochist.
The character Philip has to be very, very incredibly strong to lift and carry Gomez up over his head like that at the dinner scene. Seriously is nobody gonna talk about how incredibly strong he is?
I had the dishonor of running into this one on daytime television. I watched a good fifteen minutes of it. By good, I mean it's good I only wasted 15 minutes of my time with it. It's pretty obvious what I thought of it... buuhhh....
I think it's less that the normies are the real monsters, but that it was an attempt to the return the original social commentary of The Addams Family: that old money people are weird.
I had seen that version of fester before but had no idea it was from this! I'm... more horrified now knowing that he was in more things also phelan is looking quite dapper!
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 🎭 Adams *Family Reunion Concept: The video discusses the concept of "Adams Family Reunion," a TV movie by Saban, which was meant to be a pilot for a series but deviated from its original idea.* 🤔 Lack *of Continuity: The lack of continuity in the movie is highlighted, with jokes and plot points feeling disconnected and poorly executed compared to the previous Adams Family iterations.* 🎥 Inspirations *from Previous Movies: The movie is criticized for attempting to copy elements from the 60s series and the theatrical Adams Family movies but failing to deliver a quality production.* 💰 Saban's *Thrifty Approach: Saban's thrifty approach to filmmaking is mentioned, emphasizing how it influenced the casting choices, rejected ideas, and overall quality of the production.* 🌐 Mismatched *Adams Family Reunion: The plot involves a mix-up where the Adams Family attends a reunion meant for a different family named Adams, leading to a series of poorly executed jokes and conflicts.* 🎾 Tennis *Plot with Tim Curry: The review touches upon a subplot involving Tim Curry's character playing tennis, highlighting Curry's lack of tennis skills and the inconsistency in his accent throughout the movie.* 🚫 Lack *of Resolution: The video criticizes the film for introducing various plot points, such as Gomez's parents turning normal or Pugsley's love story, without providing satisfactory resolutions, leading to a disjointed narrative.* 🎬 Overall *Lack of Quality and Purpose: The review concludes by emphasizing the lack of purpose, humor, and quality in "Adams Family Reunion," ultimately deeming it a wasted opportunity with talented actors given poor material to work with.* 🏡 The *movie features a scene where a mailman is killed, a recurring theme in the Addams Family franchise.* 🎭 Wednesday *and Pugsley are oddly screened in during certain shots, possibly due to shooting constraints.* 🎞️ The *film includes questionable background shots, with a notable "nice [__] model" reference.* 📜 A *plot thread involving people going to the wrong Addams Family reunion leads to confusion and humor.* 🐶 Clint *Howard makes an appearance, showcasing a comedic subplot with a dog that eats hair.* 🚨 The *Addams Family gets arrested towards the end, leading to potential foster care for the kids.* 🃏 A *wager involving Ed Begley Jr. being the Addams' personal physician becomes a subplot.* 🎥 Despite *criticisms, the creators enjoyed the movie, highlighting its unconventional and repetitive elements.* Made with HARPA AI
I hate to say that Tim Curry is the worst, because I've always like Tim Curry and think he's a great actor. But...trying to follow up Raul Julia...he was doomed from the beginning
Of all the actors who have played Gomez Addams, the single worst has to be Luis Guzman as Gomez in the Netflix "Wednesday" series. He may look a lot like the Gomez drawn by Charles Addams, but he lacks any energy, and his whole personality is defined by his being inseparable from Morticia. Fortunately, since he is rarely seen in that series, we don't have to see much of him. The best parts of that series are Jenna Ortega as Wednesday, and Fred Armisen as Uncle Fester, who only made one appearance in that series.
