The Catholic News Service classification is A-II — adults and adolescents.
The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some materials may not be suitable for children.
When Wednesday Addams (voiced by Chloë Grace Moretz) has an exhibit at her schools’ science fair she bemoans the fact that her family came even though they weren’t invited. She feels like she isn’t a part of the family because she is so different. And to make it all even worse, the school doesn’t recognize her talent or anyone else’s either by giving everyone participation trophies.
The science fair’s sponsor Cyrus Strange (voiced by Bill Hader) is impressed by her work and invites her to work with him. When she turns him down, he decides to take matters into his own hands and concocts a story in which Wednesday is his daughter switched at birth and sends an overzealous lawyer to make the claim.
Meanwhile, Gomez Addams (voiced by Oscar Isaac) feels like his daughter is growing up too fast and decides to take the whole family on vacation whether they like it or not.
They set off to see the many “dark secrets” of the country like Sleepy Hallow and Death Valley and Gomez hopes to spend some quality time together.
Their trip across the country is equal parts family bonding and evasion of the dogged lawyer Mr. Mustela (voiced by Wallace Shawn).
Wednesday who thinks her father’s idea is “cruel, even for you” becomes increasingly more disappointed with her family. And when she discovers who the strange man Mr. Mustela is and what is his purpose, she thinks there could be more to this than her “family” are willing to consider.
On their road trip, they visit Miami Beach, where they pick up Cousin It (voiced by Snoop Dog; they go over Niagra Falls; Salem Mass. where Wednesday finds her #squadgoals; and the Grand Canyon where Pugsley (voiced by Javon Walton) gets expressive with dynamite; in addition to many other misadventures along the way.
Is It Worth My Time and Money?
While it is not as funny as we have come to expect most children’s movies to be, it does have some humorous scenes but does drag a bit in the middle, very young children will be entertained.
The family dynamic is good because at its core the Addams Family love each other in their own creepy and kooky way and this family is certainly worth a visit to your theater.
Can I Take My Children to See It?
Wednesday is made to participate in a beauty pageant in which the children accidentally get doused with red paint reminiscent of the Carrie scene where she is doused with pigs blood.
Uncle Fester (voiced by Nick Kroll) undergoes a physical transformation spread out throughout the movie that may be upsetting to some children.
With macabre and suggestive jokes, non-perilous action scenes, and cartoon violence where Wednesday tries to kill or harm her brother, many parents may be concerned to take their very young children to see it.
Was There Anything Offensive In It?
Wednesday Addams uses a VooDoo doll to torture her brother in many hilarious ways. The doll is never identified as a VooDoo doll but is one. This may prompt children to ask what it is and how by using the doll she makes things happen to Pugsley, and the answer will by necessity require an explanation of magic and the Occult; you will want to consider if this is a topic for your children before taking them to see it.
What’s the Bottom Line?
With so many other really good children’s animated movies available to stream, you may want to avoid this movie if you have concerns for your child viewing the content already described; but with careful consideration, if you feel that the movie will be ok for your child/children to view it is an entertaining movie which drives home good family values in its own mysterious way.