583. Young Frankenstein (1974)

Running Time: 105 minutes
Directed By: Mel Brooks
Written By: Gene Wilder, Mel Brooks, from the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Main Cast: Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle, Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman
Click here to view the trailer

HAPPY (EARLY) HALLOWEEN

My wife is at work today, which means I can binge watch BOOK movies. Actually, this binge will really only be two movies long, as I hope to get one last film squeezed in before my love returns home. I best get moving...

Well, it's Mel Brooks, so most of you reading this should know what to expect. The title is Young Frankenstein which refers to Gene Wilder's character of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, the grandson of the mad scientist whom we saw depicted in James Whale's version of the horror tale. Dr. Frederick wants nothing to do with his grandfather's work, even refusing to admit that his last name is even pronounced the same way. That is until he visits the castle where his grandfather did his most notorious work. Once there, he meets Igor (pronounced Eye-Gor and played marvelously by Marty Feldman) and Inga (Garr), his assistants. He eventually comes around to the idea that reanimating life into a corpse is possible and thus gets to work putting a brain into a seven foot man, in hopes of bringing him back from the dead. Of course, he succeeds, but the brain that goes into the Monster (Boyle), is that of an abnormal man, by accident. The Monster escapes Dr. Frederick's lab, terrorizing the village, but is eventually lured back home by the doctor, who is now on board with being called Frankenstein, as it was meant to be pronounced.

I think we all learned from my Airplane! review that I have no tolerance for silliness. Actually, this wasn't half bad, I guess. You know, I used to really like Mel Brooks. I remember the first time I saw Blazing Saddles I really, really liked it and it prompted me to go out and blind buy both Young Frankenstein and Spaceballs. Then, several years ago when my wife and I were looking for something to watch, we happened upon Young Frankenstein in the DVD collection and decided to give it a go. We both HATED it. I can remember going to a used DVD store and trying to sell it, but for some reason they wouldn't buy it (they had too many copies of it already or something) so, I think we ended up just throwing it away. Even when I rewatched Blazing Saddles for THE BOOK, I hated that the second go around too. I'm growing up *wipes a tear from his eye*

But seriously, this wasn't that bad. Not once did I laugh out loud, but I thought Gene Wilder was terrific, screaming about half of his dialogue and entertaining me thoroughly. Add to that list Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle, Gene Hackman (did you spot him?) and Madeline Kahn and you had a very entertaining cast. Not to mention the lovely Teri Garr, who almost never gets her due for being a knockout. Mildly recommended, but it's definitely not for everybody and you must be in the mood for it.

RATING: 6/10  Let's keep it simple with this one, since that's the meat & potatoes of it anyway.

MOVIES WATCHED: 975
MOVIES LEFT TO WATCH: 26

October 10, 2015  4:37pm