The Addams Family (1991)

Con artists plan to fleece an eccentric family using an accomplice who claims to be their long-lost uncle.

From memory: Nicely made and very well cast adaptation has its some enjoyable bits and moments, but is far cry from the charm of the beloved TV series.

Halliwell*: "Owing more to the TV series of the 1960s than to the macabre wit of the original New Yorker cartoons, an ill-conceived, coarse-grained comedy that nevertheless was a success at the box-office."

Maltin***: ""Piquant comedy...Huston and Julia are absolutely perfect as Morticia  and Gomez, and maintain a light touch while dispensing their gleefully ghoulish black humor. Impressive directorial debut for cinematographer Sonnenfeld.

The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981)

The sensuous wife of a lunch wagon proprietor and a rootless drifter begin a sordidly steamy affair and conspire to murder her Greek husband.

From memory: Steamy adaptation of Cain's novel is not really better than previous versions, but Lange and Nicholson's performances are excellent as well as Nykvist's cinematography.

Halliwell**: "Not otherwise any better, but an interesting measure of the times."

Maltin*1/2: "Exceedingly unpleasant adaptation...David Mamet's screenplay may be more faithful to Cain than the 1946 version, but who cares? Despite its much touted sex scenes (more violent than erotic), it's dreary and forgettable...Moodily photographed by Sven Nykvist."

50/50 (2011)

Inspired by a true story, a comedy centered on a 27-year-old guy who learns of his cancer diagnosis and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease.

It's always a risk to stage the drama of a life-threatening illness and try to spice it with humor, but careful direction and an excellent cast actually help manage to pull it off.

Maltin***: "...this sure-footed film manages to blend comedy and drama with satisfying results. Gordon-Levitt is perfect in the leading role."

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

An estranged family of former child prodigies reunites when their father announces he is terminally ill.

Elaborately produced and obsessed with details, the story itself hardly goes anywhere, and the star cast is treated like pawns in a game of chess.

Halliwell*: "The fun here lies in the details - dalmatian-spotted mice, battered taxicabs, the elegant pages of an imaginary book - rather in the disjointed narrative, which sets the scene deftly and then collapses."

Maltin**1/2: "Rambling comedy has the same likable, eccentric qualities as the filmmakers' BOTTLE ROCKET and RUSHMORE and benefits from Hackman's savvy performance, but strains for effect and essentially has no story."