"She's Nosferatu."
"She's Italian?"
Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995) 88 min
O Mel Brooks, sigh...WHAT WERE YOU THINKING??? What a complete waste of film. In theory, making a parody of Dracula is an excellent idea...especially for someone as gifted as Mel Brooks (and especially after his AMAZING rendition of the Frankenstein legend, "Young Frankenstein") BUT somehow something went wrong. The funniest line I have listed above...Nosferatu was the first Dracula film to be made. It was a silent film, and it is slightly different from the novel b/c the director did not have permission to adapt Dracula (and it's German, lol)
I admit I've never read "Dracula", but having seen the 1930s version with Bela Lugosi and knowing what makes a good comedy I feel like I can discuss this film. Leslie Nielsen was a good choice for Dracula: he's over the top but that would work for this film. But anyway, it is the usual Dracula story: Renfield (MacNicol) goes to Transylvania since he has a meeting with the infamous Count Dracula (Nielsen). When he arrives in town he tells the townsfolk, "Yes, I'm schh-eduled to meet Count Dracula" and they respond with the typical mixture of shock and horror, but also mock Renfield "...Schh-eduled?" Despite the warnings he goes to the castle and meets Dracula...and becomes his servant/slave/whatever. They travel to England where Dracula plagues the locals. Renfield is thought to be insane and is sent to Dr. Seward (Korman...hillarious as usual) who locks him up and continually prescribes enemas to cure Renfield. Dracula encounters Dr. Seward's "family" (i'm not really sure how they all fit together since it's been awhile since i've forced myself to watch this film) at the opera and is smitten by Lucy (Anthony) and Mina (Yasbeck). He fixates on Mina to become his bride, but is impeded by her fiance Jonathan (Weber) and the arrival of Van Helsing (Brooks).
Some of the jokes COULD be considered funny but it is all the same humor: sexual, mocking the absurd accents, or gory scenes. It had such potential....but sadly Brooks managed to screw it up. If you like Mel Brooks early films don't see this, you will be incredibly upset/ashamed...and if you like Dracula/vampire films...again don't watch....
If you watch this film you will be mocked for life: I think that explains it all...
Don't waste your money: If you ignore my advice, then wait for it to come on TV so you don't have to pay for this film. Ok, i'm being harsh. Some parts are funny but a few scenes don't make up for the lack of quality of the rest of the film.
I admit I've never read "Dracula", but having seen the 1930s version with Bela Lugosi and knowing what makes a good comedy I feel like I can discuss this film. Leslie Nielsen was a good choice for Dracula: he's over the top but that would work for this film. But anyway, it is the usual Dracula story: Renfield (MacNicol) goes to Transylvania since he has a meeting with the infamous Count Dracula (Nielsen). When he arrives in town he tells the townsfolk, "Yes, I'm schh-eduled to meet Count Dracula" and they respond with the typical mixture of shock and horror, but also mock Renfield "...Schh-eduled?" Despite the warnings he goes to the castle and meets Dracula...and becomes his servant/slave/whatever. They travel to England where Dracula plagues the locals. Renfield is thought to be insane and is sent to Dr. Seward (Korman...hillarious as usual) who locks him up and continually prescribes enemas to cure Renfield. Dracula encounters Dr. Seward's "family" (i'm not really sure how they all fit together since it's been awhile since i've forced myself to watch this film) at the opera and is smitten by Lucy (Anthony) and Mina (Yasbeck). He fixates on Mina to become his bride, but is impeded by her fiance Jonathan (Weber) and the arrival of Van Helsing (Brooks).
Some of the jokes COULD be considered funny but it is all the same humor: sexual, mocking the absurd accents, or gory scenes. It had such potential....but sadly Brooks managed to screw it up. If you like Mel Brooks early films don't see this, you will be incredibly upset/ashamed...and if you like Dracula/vampire films...again don't watch....
If you watch this film you will be mocked for life: I think that explains it all...
Don't waste your money: If you ignore my advice, then wait for it to come on TV so you don't have to pay for this film. Ok, i'm being harsh. Some parts are funny but a few scenes don't make up for the lack of quality of the rest of the film.
Rating: PG-13 for "comic" sensuality and gore
Director: Mel Brooks
Starring: Leslie Nielsen as Count Dracula
Peter MacNicol as Renfield
Steven Weber as Jonathan
Amy Yasbeck as Mina
Mel Brooks as Dr. Abraham Van Helsing
Lysette Anthony as Lucy
Harvey Korman as Dr. Jack Seward
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