The Addams Family (1991) ****

After Tim Burton passed on directing The Addams Family (1991), Barry Sonnenfeld took the assignment as his directorial debut. Previously Sonnenfeld had served as cinematographer on a number of great films (including the first three Coen Brothers features). Ironically, TAF had three cinematographers (including, finally, Sonnenfeld himself), due to Owen Roizman quitting and Gale Tattersall being hospitalized.

I've seen some of creator Charles Addams' original cartoons and I've seen episodes of the The Addams Family (1964–1966) TV series, but I am no aficionado, by any means. However, as a film based on these characters, standing on its own merits, I find it really enjoyable—full of light-hearted, gruesome fun. The cast is pitch perfect—Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, Judith Malina and Carel Struycken all knock it out of the park. Morticia and Gomez's undying love in particular is one of the most endearing parts of the film.

The dialogue is delightfully macabre—thanks to the screenplay by Caroline Thompson, who served as a writer for Edward Scissorhands (1990), then later The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) (review) and Corpse Bride (2005), and Larry Wilson, who co-wrote the story for Beetlejuice (1988) (review) and penned episodes of Tales From The Crypt (1989–1996). Richard Macdonald's production design is a marvel of Gothic cartoon proportions and Ruth Myers' costumes perfectly serve the characters' sense of dark aristocratic chic.

Additional fun fact: the pinball machine based on the film is the best selling pinball machine of all time (and it's really awesome, though I'm not that good at it).