Is the new MGM animated film sequel safe for kids? Is The Addams Family 2 OK for kids? Read the Addams Family 2 Movie Review Safe for Kids?, an honest parents guide to the new Addams Family sequel film. No spoilers! #AddamsFamily2 May contain commissioned links.
The Addams Family 2 Movie Review | Safe for Kids?
Strange.
Deranged?
Um, hello – I’m looking for the person who asked for an Addams Family 2 sequel? Because no offense, I wasn’t a huge fan of the 2019 animated movie version to begin with. But here we are. It’s 2021, and we have yet another sequel film that nobody asked for, coming to a theater near you. But does this creepy and kooky family surprise and delight fans? Or just give us all the creeps?
In The Addams Family 2 Movie Review | Safe for Kids, we are talking about the visuals, the story (no spoilers!), breaking down the PG age rating, giving my personal mom recommendation for the best age to watch Addams Family 2 and if my own kids will be watching – all from a parent movie review perspective.
The Visuals
As an animated film, I was impressed with The Addams Family 2 visuals. With unusual body proportions and Tim Burton-esque feels, the movie does have a balance of dark vibes paired with bright colorings, shadings and a sharp visual flavor to entice kids to watch. For a non-Disney film, I enjoyed the CGI animation.
The Story
Directors Conrad Vernon (“Shrek“) and Greg Tiernan (“Sausage Party“) return to direct this 2021 United Artists animated film sequel. Most of The Addams Family 2019 cast also reprise their voice roles including Oscar Isaac (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens“) as Gomez Addams, Charlize Theron (“Monster“) as Morticia Addams, Chloë Grace Moretz (“Kick-Ass“) as Wednesday Addams, Nick Kroll (“Sing 2“) as Uncle Fester, introducing Javon Walton (HBO’s “Euphoria“) as Pugsley Addams and Wallace Shawn (“The Princess Bride“) as Mr. Mustela, along with Snoop Dogg (“Training Day“), Bette Midler (“Hocus Pocus“), and Bill Hader (“Turbo“).
That’s about where the enjoyment ends. Even monsters need a vacation…apparently. Following a 2019 cartoon reboot of The Addams Family franchise, this film follows the family post-immigration “overcoming bullying and diversity acceptance” original. With travel adventures outside of their spooky home, The Addams hit the road to explore the bigger world, while learning about family love, acceptance, individuality and identity in the family structure.
Much like the original, this film fails to capture something new and different about The Addams family that would be exciting to a 2021 family audience. Leaning heavily on toilet jokes instead of their peculiar ways, my patience for watching the Addams family antics wears thin, and fast. And sadly, there’s a lot of talent gone to waste too. Oscar Isaac (“Gomez Addams”), Charlize Theron “Morticia Addams”), Chloë Grace Moretz (“Wednesday”), Bette Midler (“Grandmama”) return to the big screen. Newcomer Snoop Dogg “Cousin It” joins the returning cast, mostly for a new song.
That PG Rating
Is The Addams Family 2 safe for kids? It’s no secret that I am highly skeptical of all child age ratings (um hello, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker not disclosing any language??). But you also know how I feel about PG ratings especially. With MPAA ratings unpredictable these days, PG rating oscillating between Incredibles 2 intense and Christopher Robin calm, having fully disclosed parent guidelines can be super helpful in determining if a movie is safe for your whole family to watch, especially your little ones.
Why is The Addams Family 2 rated PG? Is this The Addams Family 2 Movie Review | Safe for Kids? MGM Addams Family sequel is rated PG for “macabre and rude humor, violence and language.” Is The Addams Family 2 safe for kids? Is The Addams Family 2 too scary for kids? Should parents be worried about a possibly horrifying movie awakening? Let’s breakdown that MPAA rating in The Addams Family 2 parents guide.
Violence. No joke, I had to look up the definition of macabre. Being a movie about The Addams Family and series of horrifying events depicting death/serious injury, there are a multitude of different instances where a family member tries to “off” another family member. Supposedly a depiction of “kids being kids,” there are quite a few near-miss killings, hitting, slapping – used for humor purposes. The most disturbing is the depiction of cartoon suffocation – which still can give off cringe-y intense vibes for young children.
And also encouragement of physically violent/scary actions that children are normally NOT encouraged to perform – for instance, jumping off a balcony, gagging a person or committing arson. And there are a multitude of weapons used such as axes, swords, knives and explosives.
As far as grotesqueness goes, there is no blood and very minimal gory scenes (such as beheaded heads, voodoo doll usage, electrocution), but everything on a cartoon level.
Adult themes. Holy potty humor. The obsessiveness of this movie and the toilet/poop joke instances are WAY over the top for a kids movie. Instead of leaning into their creepy, spooky personalities, The Addams Family 2 tries to desperately grab laughs with a ridiculous amount of crude bathroom humor. From peeing on oneself, to a person sitting on the toilet (pants pulled down), to multiple scenes of poop – all I can say is ew.
But more than just toilet jokes, The Addams Family 2 is very much in alcohol consumption, with lots of drinks being poured, consumed and requested “double!”, bar fights, and passing out due to over consumption of drinking.
There’s also many crude humor references (mostly for parents) that involve “the finger,” “my balls,” and being in public in one’s underwear. Thankfully only mild kissing between Morticia and Gomez. But I’ve already spent way too long in this section of the film review.
Language. Mild name calling with “idiots,” “imbecile.” My first time watching this film, I actually didn’t catch any swear words or profanity. The second watch (yes, I was groaning), there were mild instances of “oh my g-d” said on top of the name calling. But actually very mild for a kids’ film.
What The Addams Family 2 Movie Age Rating is Recommended for Kids?
With The Addams Family 2 runtime of 1 hour 33 minutes, about what you would expect from a children’s film. With lots of antics, bathroom humor and action-packed cartoon adventure, there’s certainly plenty of attention grabbing for a younger audience.
However, with an abundance of gross jokes, horrific acts and very little family value, I honestly wouldn’t recommend this film for young kids. Crude like Shrek, but much darker for the macabre, this “family film” is going to be tough for young literal minds to grasp the irony.
This 2021 film sequel is most comparable to The Addams Family 2019 animated film release based on the popular TV show.
This MGM Addams Family 2021 film sequel is rated PG for “macabre and rude humor, violence and language.”
No, there’s no post-credit scene.
Based on The Addams Family 2 parents guide and mom review above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend this 2021 animated film sequel to kids younger than the age of 7-8 years old.
Considering the full PG rating breakdown above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Dear Evan Hansen to kids younger than the age of 7-8 years old who can grasp more abstract, dark and humorous themes. This animated film rating is actually pretty light given the copious amounts of content that parents should be aware of.
With an abundance of gross jokes, horrific acts and very little family value, I honestly wouldn’t recommend this film for young kids. Crude like Shrek, but much darker for the macabre, this “family film” is going to be tough for young literal minds to grasp the irony. If your kids are die hard The Addams Family 2019 fans, then by all means, your kids will enjoy this sequel. But given that this is certainly a sequel that I didn’t ask for or need, this one falls short on so many levels.
The Overall
“They’re all together ooky.” That about sums up this sequel.
Painful to get through at times and unnecessary as a follow up film to the 2019 original animated movie, I am scratching my fully attached head as to why this movie needed to be made in the first place. I don’t understand the attraction to cartoon macabre, toilet humor, and a sad plot combo. But maybe there’s a kids market for that. Maybe. Prove me wrong. But for me, The Addams Family is a franchise that should have be deceased years ago. All puns intended.
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The Addams Family 2 movie opens exclusively in theaters Friday October 1, 2021. Will your family be watching this sequel?
I was invited to screen this film in exchange for The Addams Family 2 Movie Review | Safe for Kids? All photos courtesy of MGM/UA. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more movie updates, celebrity interviews, entertainment and behind-the-scenes info!
Steve says
Yes, I get that you’re an adult reviewer, even for kids movies…but.. this IS a KIDS movie, and they’re not as analytical as you when it comes to having a fun watch… so toilet humour, especially in my 7yr olds eyes and ears are very funny right now.
I’m sure he’ll grow out of, and past it sometime in the next year or so… but for now, let the kids be kids and enjoy the movies like this, even crammed with naff jokes as some are to us, but not to the wee ones.
I do note, whilst watching his other cartoon stuff with him (Netflix, YouTube..i.e. Hotel Transylvania, the Loud House..), that there are the odd jokes slotted in there for the adults, as they know we’ll be watching alongside our kids, mostly. But the kids don’t have to ‘get the jokes’ every time, as there’s usually enough for them to laugh at.. even stuff I don’t get to be funny, he loves, and often rewinds to see gain.
The toilet, toot, pukey, kick in the nads jokes, etc, are pretty funny to him, as he’s a boy going through his fighting dad stage right now (punching, boxing, kung fu, etc), so he loves the action, and the cartoon ‘accidents’ (a la Warner Bros cartoons), which he himself says.. hah, only in cartoons!
Basic line here, whatever we see as adults, and however analytical we get… they will always see just the humour and how daft it is… sure he may have some questions here and there, but for the majority, he loves the funnyness of it all. 🙂
christie says
I appreciate your comment. However, please keep in mind that I am not writing reviews from the enjoyment level of kids, but for parents who are trying to decide if the movie is appropriate for their kids to watch. I understand that you feel that the level of this movie is at a level that is comfortable for your child, but please note that not all parents feel the same way about the humor, story, language, etc. This kind of review is truly a gauge for parent discernment before allowing their kids to watch a film. Thanks for understanding and taking the time to read.