I really enjoyed 2019’s animated version of The Addams Family. The MGM film found a way to revisit this iconic family that remained faithful to the old TV series and original comics by Charles Addams. Although not perfect, it had a nice balance of humor and sweet moments while giving this family a contemporary setting without over-doing it. I was thrilled to learn that a sequel was in the works and couldn’t wait to see what this family was up to now. Unfortunately, now I wish I hadn’t.

While some of us held our breath while walking into the theaters to see the first Addams Family movie, we were met with a pleasant surprise. The sequel, The Addams Family 2 is scary for all the wrong reasons. It’s almost as though the creators found all the things that they did right with the first film and then the complete opposite for the second. Well, almost. The animation style and the voice acting is once again, on point, but the movie’s storyline lines is dreadful.

After a science fair event at his kid’s school (in which Wednesday successfully melds the DNA of her pet octopus and her Uncle Fester in a demonstration), Gomez Addams (voiced by Oscar Isaac) is distraught with knowing that his children are growing up and that his days with his kids are numbered. He proposes to Morticia (Charlize Theron) they take their children Wednesday (Chloe Grace Moretz) and Pugsley (Javon Walton) on a road trip together leaving Grandma (Bette Midler) with the place to herself with a plan to raise a few bucks for herself at the same time.

Traveling in an over-sized RV that only the Addams could love, the family travels across the states making stops at the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Coney Island and more. In addition, the family learns that Wednesday might have been switched at birth, Uncle Fester (Nick Kroll) isn’t feeling himself and this road trip is going to get weirder before it gets better (but not before some fairly disturbing scenes involving mad scientist Dr. Cyrus (Bill Hader). More criminal though is the lack of screen time for Thing, Lurch, Cousin It and Grandma.

While the initial idea of a family road trip is a good one, the execution of the story gets muddled with too many gimmicks and a lack of funny lines. The first film was a family movie, but this one is just for the kids. Scenes of chaos, bathroom humor and bad taste overtake this picture. There’s nothing clever here. The one truly charming scene is ruined three minutes later and parents are going to wish that they had never brought their kids to see this thing. Directors Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon don’t get everything wrong, (having the family ride barrels down Niagara Falls is a fun touch) but overall it’s just too chaotic to enjoy. Instead of a solid storyline, they settled for a mediocre one.

This Halloween, do yourself a favor and re-watch the original TV series instead.

Main Image: MGM