Cast shines, plot does not
in ‘Addams Family’sequel
jK| t’s mid-November.
^B The turkey is
thawing, finals are
U| right around the
comer, and the first
wave of holiday
^B movies is hitting
theaters nationwide.
And what would a
holiday movie
season be without sequels?
The first sequel to show up this
cinematic season, opening today, is
“Addams Family Values.”
Although the previews for the
film seem to focus on Pubert, the
newest member of the Addams
household, his role turns out to be
only a small part of the movie.
All the original cast members are
back, except that Grandma is now
played by Carol Kane (“The
Princess Bride”). There are some
other new faces as well.
Joan Cusack (“Working Girl,”
“Say Anything”) shows up as
Debbie, the new nanny. However,
she has something else in mind
besides nannying.
Debbie likes to marry rich, lonely
men, then kill them on their wed
ding night after being named the
next of kin.
As it turns out, Uncle Fester
(Christopher Lloyd) is lonesome
and looking for love, and Debbie is
broke and looking for bucks.
Debbie’s true intentions are
discovered by the lovably macabre
Wednesday (Christina Ricci).
Debbie gets one step ahead of
Wednesday, and convinces Gomez
and Morticia (Raul Julia and
Anjelica Huston) that the older
children want to go to summer
camp.
Wednesday and Pugsley
* (Jimmy Workman) don’t just
end up at any summer
camp; they’re sent to
• • Camp Chippewa, a camp
that caters to the most
WASP-ish members of society. The
camp is led by two perpetually
perky people, Becky and Gary
Granger (Christine Baranski and
Peter MacNicol).
Wednesday and Pugsley,
surrounded by droves of cheerful
children who thrive on happiness
and laughter — can we say “culture
shock?”
Not only must Wednesday and
Pugsley escape the torturously
happy surroundings of Camp
Chippewa, but they also must
prevent the wedding of Uncle Fester
and Debbie.
Many of the film s most hilarious
moments come courtesy of the two
children — particularly in the
“rehabilitation techniques” they use
on their fellow campers.
Unfortunately, the other plot
lines are a bit thin, and they seem to
wander here and there, waiting for
the ending to arrive to tie them all
together.
Director Barry Sonnenfeld, who
directed the blockbuster “Addams
Family” in 1991, is back in the
director’s chair, but he isn’t able to
reach the same peak he achieved
two years ago.
All the cast members are terrific
in their respective roles, but it is
Ricci who steals the movie. Her
deadpan portrayal of the wicked
Wednesday is absolutely delicious
and provides the best moments of
the movie.
Anyone who’s a fan of the
“Addams Family” movie definitely
should check out “Addams Family
Values.”
— Gerry Bettz
David Badders/DN
weekend pow-wow:
Cultures converging on campus
□ative American tribes from
around the country will gather
this weekend for the fourth
annual University ofNebraska
Lincoln Pow-Wow.
Thomas Parker, vice president of
the University InterTribal Exchange
Program (UNITE), said the pow-wow
was open to any tribe, and to members
of any race.
“The focus is to bring all people
together,” he said. “The door is open
to anyone who wants to participate."
Parker, a freshman geology and
environmental studies major, said reg
istration for the pow-wow’s various
dance and music competitions would
begin Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Cen
tennial Ballroom at the Nebraska Stu
dent Union.
At 1 p.m., the grand entry and
invocation begins. Parker said the
grand entry was when the various tribal
dancers entered the arena. Their entry
will be accompanied by the songs of
the Young Generation, a Native
American group made up of young
singers from Walthill.
After the grand entry, an elder will
bless the event. Then the master of
ceremonies,
Gary Rush of
Omaha, will
begin the inter
tribal dance,
where all tribes
are encour
aged to partici
pate.
rarker said
sometime before 5 p.m. the dance
contests would be held, after which
everyone is invited to Selleck Hall for
a traditional Native American meal.
After the break, the pow-wow will
continue from 7 p.m. until “finishing
seems appropriate,” he said.
The pow-wow resumes at 1 p.m.
on Sunday with another grand entry
and continued dancing.
Parker encouraged anyone inter
ested in Native American culture to
attend the event.
He said any student who had ever
seen a Disney movie or Hollywood
representation of Native Americans
could learn a lot at the pow-wow.
“We are proud of who we are, and
we like to show people more about our
cultures,” he said.
The event’s sponsors include
UNITE, Casino Omaha, UPC, Grants
for American Indians in Nebraska, the
Nebraska Humanities Council, Omaha
Tribe of Nebraska and Iowa, and the
UNL Once of Multicultural Affairs.
Admi »sion is free with the dona
tion of a can of food. For more infor
mation about the pow-wow call the
Office of Multicultural affairs at 472
2027.
Mainrlli is a i«nlnr nrm *ditnr 1
■cwiTuiiui isi major lav
(he Daily Ncbraskaa Arts aad Eatertala
mrat editor.