Two Movie Families, 10 Coincidences

You hear it as a constant refrain from critics: In its frenzied quest for the almighty blockbuster, Hollywood has given up original ideas in favor of mind-numbing lineup of remakes, sequels, and, worst of all, movies based on old TV shows.

To be fair, not all of those TV-to-film transplants insult the audience; look at “The Fugitive.” Then again, “Coneheads.”

While we’re more than willing to give movie makers the benefit of the doubt, we can’t help but notice that movies are, indeed, beginning to look more and more alike. In the case of a pair of current releases, it’s hard not to marvel that the screenwriters accidently wrote the same movie. Or perhaps it’s like the old saying: If you put a group of monkeys in a room with typewriters, they’ll eventually produce the screenplay for “The Flinstones” movie.

The Beverly Hillbillies

* Movie based on characters from a declasse sitcom hit of the 1960s.

* Film features award-winning ‘70s TV actress Cloris Leachman in underwritten visual-gag-and-makeup role of Granny.

* Male lead Jim Varney did “Hey, Vern” commercials.

* Film focuses of family of hillbilly oddballs in Beverly Hills who think they’re normal.

* In film, a blond tutor (Lea Thompson) is hired to handle daughter Elly Mae, who need civilizing.

* Household includes rich, eligible, naive bachelor: Jed Clampett.

* Tutor sets sights on bachelor Jed, she schemes to marry him, drain his bank account.

* Granny becomes suspicious; tutor sends her to a mental asylum to keep her quiet.

* Granny escapes from asylum; foils tutor’s marriage scheme.

* Same plot as “Addams Family Values”--without the laughs.

Addams Family Values

* Sequel to movie based on characters from a declasse sitcom hit of the 1960s.

* Film features award-winning ‘70s TV actress Carol Kane in underwritten visual-gag-and-makeup role of Granny.

* Male lead Raul Julia did Puerto Rican Tourist Board commercials.

* Film focuses of family of ghoulish oddballs in suburbia who think they’re normal.

* In film, a blond nanny (Joan Cusak) is hired to care for children Wednesday, Pugsley and Pubert, who need civilizing.

* Household includes rich, eligible, naive bachelor: Fester Addams.

* Nanny sets sights on bachelor Fester, she schemes to marry him, kill him, drain his bank account.

* Pugsley, Wednesday become suspicious; nanny sends them to summer camp to keep them quiet.

* Pugsley, Wednesday escape from camp; baby Pubert foils nanny’s final murder attempt.

* Same plot as “Beverly Hillbillies”--but with jokes that work.