Set in present times, the members of “The Addams Family” must face the test of their family bond, unity and willingness to put their differences aside for the common good.

Morticia (Charlize Theron) and Gomez (Oscar Isaac) cannot seem to be consoled from the fact that their children are not only growing age-wise but also apart from them. Wednesday Addams (Chloë Grace Moretz) practices social distancing from her parents: she does not hug, kiss or indulges in any kind of communication. She is too grown-up for those childish things. She feels as if she is different and unlike her family members, and must discover her true self. When Gomez offers a road trip that’s meant to resolve all the doubts Wednesday had, it puts their very existence in danger instead.

With the screenplay from Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit, Ben Queen and Susanna Fogel, and based on beloved characters created by Charles Addams, the sequel lacks originality, the atrociously beautiful language Addams family is known for, and the dark atmospheric settings we love them for. It appears that the right moment of the first part was lost and the language was gone, leaving way for something ordinary which this family obviously did not deserve.

That still does not mean that “Addams Family 2” is bad and you should avoid it. It is just a warning, as it is not what you may expect it to be, and that’s probably fine. For instance, the new generation of viewers may not notice the disappearance of old dark colors, charisma and biting lines that the writers of the new installment have forgotten to include. Instead of coming up with something new, the sequel uses a melodramatic approach leaning towards a soap opera storyline that The Addams Family must fight their way out of.

Nevertheless, “The Addams Family 2” is a pleasant animated film if treated as a standalone piece that has nothing much to do with the iconic characters. With a stellar cast reprising their roles(Charlize Theron, Oscar Isaac, Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Kroll, Bette Midler) and a few fresh additions, including Bill Hader as the villain scientist named Cyrus, directors Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon deliver their part with another family film that more or less can be enjoyed by families small and big alike.

Although it has a bunch of flaws and gaps, “The Addams Family” sustains minor injuries along the way and redeems itself towards the end. However, with proper writing, there wouldn’t have been a need to do that. After all, making them humane is unreal, because our beloved characters are better than humans – because they cherish family values that we so-called ordinary people take for granted.