There are two kinds of good movies: those that are re-watchable, and those that are not. Million Dollar Baby is an incredible, heart-wrenching piece of art, but I will tear out my hair before I sit down to watch the whole thing again. One movie that is re-watchable? The Addams Family. There isn’t a single second of that movie that isn’t either funny or poignant. You could choose almost any line of dialogue and flesh it out as a quote. We’ve narrowed it down to the best possible eight.
“Last night you were unhinged. You were like some desperate, howling demon. You frightened me. Do it again!” – Morticia Addams
Our first look at the Addams family comes from this introduction to Gomez and Morticia Addams. This early scene establishes their loving, oftentimes exaggerated relationship. It’s played for laughs, yes, but the sentiment serves two purposes: it is a stark contrast against the dark weirdness of the rest of their lives, and it is also very sweet.
“Now.” – Wednesday Addams
Christina Ricci is so good in this movie (and in the sequel, Addams Family Values) that she could have her own separate quote-filled post. We’re introduced to her before this, but this moment in the film is a really funny reinforcement of the bizarro kind of reality the Addams operate in. The look she gives Fester (Christopher Lloyd) when she says it is picture perfect.
“It’s called, ‘Is there a God?'” – Wednesday Addams
Barry Sonnenfeld directed this movie, and the way he frames Wednesday in this moment, pushing the camera forward dramatically into a closeup as she delivers another perfect line reading, is the stuff of genius. They let the shot linger on Wednesday’s face for a second, with no dramatic music or other cues, and then it moves on to another scene. An underrated moment in an underrated film.
“It has to warm up.” – Wednesday Addams
The reason this small, out of the way moment is so great is the whole exchange between her and Pugsley. They are very much brother and sister here; though Pugsley is the eldest, he clearly follows Wednesday around like a puppy, and does whatever she says. They seem like a real family, which makes the movie deeper than something like this usually would be.
“And our credo: “Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc.” We gladly feast on those who would subdue us. Not just pretty words.” – Morticia Addams
Fester/Gordon, already shaken up by the weirdness of his (fake) relatives, is taken on a stroll through the graveyard by Morticia. She explains to him how important he is, and how much the family wants him around. Fester/Gordon is touched, and you start to see here the part of him that leads to his change at the end of the film. It’s also good for a laugh, as Mortica speaks lovingly of the family as “psychopaths,” “mad-dog killers,” and so much more.
“This Mamushka is for you.” – Gomez Addams
One of the big (and convenient plot twists) of the movie is that Fester/Gordon actually is just Fester, with amnesia. You really see that here, as he dances with Gomez. It also serves as a nice moment between Gomez and Fester, as Fester starts to really embrace his new-found family and starts being Fester instead of just pretending to be him.
“Not anymore.” – Morticia Addams
Morticia, having been forced out of her house when Fester and his “mother” take over the estate, is looking for work to keep her family afloat. Gomez, however, is essentially a broken man, sitting alone in their hotel room. One of the great things about the Addams family is that they, even with their darkness, are a family of integrity and kindness; they pass judgement on nobody. They are an interesting contrast to the woman in this clip, who immediately and harshly judges Gomez.
“Are they made from real Girl Scouts?” – Wednesday Addams
Wednesday Addams is great in this scene, but the real star is Mercedes McNabb playing a girl scout. When Wednesday says this quote to her, she doesn’t a say a word, but the way her face contorts into a look of pure, unadulterated disgust, is really, really funny. This scene kills every time.
