Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

"The Addams Family" is beloved by many for the place it holds in their hearts because they enjoyed it during its original run. That is understandable, but it should be judged for its quality in an objective way. As a fan of "Mad" magazine, I liked humor to be clever and subversive. "The Addams Family" (TAF) tries to be both, but comes up short.Much of the humor is sophomoric. The same can be said of some "Mad" pieces, but the magazine routinely offered very sophisticated jokes. TAF, via Gomez,sometimes tries for a higher plane of comedy, as when he speaks in Latin (which consisted of stringing together Latin phrases that were unrelated).The characters are adaptations from Charles Addams' series of cartoons. The television show tries to breathe live into these (and other) characters by introducing goofiness. But the basis for much of the humor is incongruity, as when a ghoulish figure behaves in a mundane manner. Most of the other humor is derived from the unexpected. For example, their doorbell is a foghorn; they generally like things that most people dislike; their family physician is a witch doctor. Also, they seem to be unaware of how different they are from average citizens.Many comedy shows from the 60s era were rooted in juvenile humor. That is no surprise. Consider "F Troop", "McHale's Navy" or "Get Smart". Goofy ruled the day. Some comedy shows, however, were more original than others. And some had extraordinary talent in their casts.John Astin and Carolyn Jones are certainly talented, but their performances were as limited by concept as Morticia's gait. In the end, TAF was an average comedy show for its time. It's level of humor was average. Viewed from a vantage of about fifty years later, it pales in comparison with "Frasier", "Modern Family" or even "Roseanne". No doubt it will remain a cult favorite for some. It certainly is an effective example of camp. And that is, probably, its main strength.

This is one of those oldies black and white TV shows that I used to watch when I was younger - a fun, whimsical series about the misadventures of an odd, grim and macabre loving but friendly family.From the toe-tapping theme song to the family's creepy house, this is a series that shows even horror and ghoulish elements can be something to laugh and have fun with. Each character gives off his/her own brand of uniqueness and charm, like Gomez's clearing his throat with a sword to Morticia letting off steam as her way of smoking, and from Uncle Fester's lying in a bed of nails to Lurch's towerly presence.A fun classic show that is great for the whole family.Grade B+

Just some comments, rather than a review. One thing that made me cringe was when Morticia would sing in "Japanese". I'm kind of surprised that she didn't pull her eyes into a slant while she sang. Different times, I guess. Edwardian children would have been raised by a nanny and only seen after dinner, just before they were put to bed. But being a modern, post war nuclear family would meanthat kids figured more prominently in day to day life. I'm still trying to recreate their decore in my home, on a limited budget. A jackalope, stuffed armadillo, a small shark in formaldehyde, and other such geegaws are my tribute to the Addams.

They are creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky, and altogether...splendid! This is the Addams Family, a clever and very funny show about a close-knit family of affluent oddballs(according to the "normal" people who visit their home!)who just want to be happy and do their thing(so to speak!) whether that be moon bathing, bobbing for crabs on their favorite holiday(Halloween of course!) or romps in the swamps(backyard variety)this series is one that can be viewed as a clever satire about what is considered normal versus weird, sane versus insane, scary versus comedic, all in a very funny package of two seasons and 64 episodes.A shame this was canceled after only two years, but then it would have gone to color, and perhaps some of the atmosphere that the beautiful black & white filming gave us would have been lost.Fans would not mind paying a personal visit to this wonderful home on 000 Cemetery Ridge!