Just in time for spooky season, The Addams Family 2 creeps into theaters and On Demand on October 1, 2021. An animated comedy about the kookiest family ever, is it really kid-friendly? I’m breaking down all of the thematic elements, including its PG rating, in my Addams Family 2 Parents Guide and Movie Review. Here’s what parents need to know to help YOU decide if it’s appropriate for kids. As always, no spoilers!
The Addams Family 2 Parents Guide + Movie Review
Everyone’s favorite creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky family return in the sequel, The Addams Family 2. We all know that sequels are notoriously tricky. They’re either great, hello Frozen 2, or they’re just not. There’s usually no in-between. It’s a complete gamble. So where does The Addams Family 2 stack up?
The Story
In this adventure, the Addams are packing their bags and hitting the road on vacation. It seems out of their character to actually venture outside of their house, but Morticia and Gomez are hoping to bond as a family. Just typing “bond as a family” sounds so funny to me when talking about the Addams!
The sequel is predominantly focused on Wednesday Addams. In some weird mix up, there’s a possibility that Wednesday was switched at birth and not biologically an Addams. Hmm. If you’re like me, you’re scratching your head at that one, because Wednesday is the true epitome of an Addams.
Aside from that, Wednesday is struggling to find herself and where she belongs. Add that to the possibility that she might not even be an Addams, is a lot for an angst teenager.
The Cast
Talk about a star-studded cast…The Addams Family 2 certainly doesn’t disappoint! Charlize Theron (Morticia), Oscar Isaac (Gomez), along with Bill Hader, Wallace Shawn, and Bette Midler. But the real standout was Chloe Grace Moretz, who voices Wednesday Addams. Chloe truly delivers in capturing Wednesday’s sadistic personality. Another standout was Snoop Dogg’s cousin IT. While his character might have primarily been to promote Snoop’s new song, cousin IT was a scene stealer!
The Visuals
Despite being such a dark film, the visuals are quite vibrant. I found them rather impressive and detailed. The animation reminded me very much like the Despicable Me movies.
Is The Addams Family 2 Kid-Friendly? Here’s Your Parents Guide:
There’s nothing quite like The Addams Family to get you ready for all things spooky. While you may think this would be the perfect family film for Halloween, there are a few things parents might want to know. Let’s remember, The Addams Family is rather….morbid. Does this mean it’s too scary for kids?
The Addams Family 2 has an MPAA rating of PG for macabre, rude humor, violence, and language. It has a runtime of 1 hour 33 minutes. I’m a bit embarrassed, but I had to look up the definition of “macabre,” which is defined as, “disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury.” Yikes. Let’s break down the thematic elements and take a closer look.
Violence
We’re going to just cut to the chase…there’s a few disturbing scenes in The Addams Family 2. Wednesday is continuously trying to “get rid” of her brother, Pugsley. She has a voodoo doll that she uses on him on more than one occasion, but that’s not the worst of it. There is a scene where she’s trying to suffocate him with a pillow. I know it’s meant to be funny, but is that really the type of humor you want for your kids?
There are also several explosions, some of which are done by children, fire, and electrocutions.
Language
The language is very mild in The Addams Family 2. I heard the use of “idiots” and “imbecile.” There was also a quote where a character said, “I can’t believe he gave me the finger.”
Mature Content
Shockingly, there is a lot of drinking in The Addams Family 2, including a bar scene. There is also your usual potty humor that will crack the kids up and make the parents roll their eyes. I heard two different quotes that I felt were very unnecessary and not appropriate for a family film: “Ghouls gone wild” and “Just kick them, they’re very sensitive.” Why these phrases are in a children’s movie is beyond me. Most kids won’t even pick up on it, but the parents definitely will.
Age Recommendation
If you can get past the macabre and the inappropriate phrases, The Addams Family 2 will be okay for most kids. It’s not really scary and there is a lot of humor thrown in. I’ve watched it twice, once by myself, and the other time with my kids. My 11 year old said “it was okay, but could have been better.” My 7 year old was cracking up the entire time. I think I’d agree with my oldest. It was an okay movie, enjoyable to watch during Halloween time. Family friendly enough where it’s not overly spooky. I’d recommend The Addams Family 2 for ages 6 and up. Just be aware of the sensitive content mentioned and use your best judgement.
Overall Thoughts
The Addams Family has been around for a LONG time. It’s a franchise that many generations can relate to, which makes it appealing to families. Overall it’s a fun watch, especially for spooky season. The CGI animation was done exceptionally for a dark film. The storyline, though a bit predictable, is simple and quick paced for kids. Putting the cringe worthy quotes and disturbing suffocation scene aside, The Addams Family 2 is ultimately about family. Whether they’re creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky, they love their family — and that’s a message I can get behind. The Addams Family 2 is playing in theaters and available On Demand.
The Addams Family 2 Synopsis:
Everyone’s favorite spooky family is back in the animated comedy sequel, The Addams Family 2. In this all new movie we find Morticia and Gomez distraught that their children are growing up, skipping family dinners, and totally consumed with “scream time.” To reclaim their bond they decide to cram Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester and the crew into their haunted camper and hit the road for one last miserable family vacation. Their adventure across America takes them out of their element and into hilarious run-ins with their iconic cousin, IT, as well as many new kooky characters. What could possibly go wrong?
I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2 PARENTS GUIDE AND MOVIE REVIEW HELPFUL FOR YOUR FAMILY. WILL YOU BE WATCHING?!
Looking for more spooky movies? Check out my Nightbooks Parents Guide here!
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