Famed radio personality Larry Abbot (Wilder) is losing it. While performing in his latest radio horror show, he goes into hysterics during the storm sequence: either crying or laughing throughout the scene. He is nervous about his upcoming wedding to costar Vickie Pearle (Radner), and can't control his emotions the closer the wedding comes. His uncle, psychiatrist Paul Abbot (Smith), believes the only course of treatment is to scare Larry to death.
Larry and Vickie finish the show and leave for their wedding at the creepy estate of his Great Aunt Kate (DeLuise). The entire eccentric Abbot clan are spending the weekend at the estate. They include Paul, his prankster son Charlie (Pryce), Paul's lawyer brother Francis Sr. (Vaughan), Francis' cross-dressing son Francis Jr. (Roger Ashton-Griffiths), Larry's cousin Susan (Jo Ross) and her magician husband Montego (Jim Carter). Kate believes someone in the family is trying to kill her, and claims one of them is a werewolf. With dead bodies, drunk servants, faulty electricity, and a werewolf with a secret, is anyone safe and will the wedding actually occur?
Reading the cast list and the premise, this sounds like a slam dunk. The cast is filled with noted comedians with an impressive pedigree of comedy films. Dom DeLuise and Gene Wilder appeared in numerous Mel Brooks films and other well-known comedies and Gilda Radner was one of the stars of SNL (seasons 1-5). They all made great films after this one. The premise sounds intriguing and could be an interesting blend / send-up of classic black and white horror films with comedic undertones. This formula worked for Wilder in Young Frankenstein and should work here as well.
However, the tone and story just don't measure up. It isn't a bad film, it just falls flat in some places. It starts well, with a murder, and introduces the main characters well... but some pieces just feel out of place. When they are at the Abbot estate there are good moments: the dinner sequence, but there are other scenes and characters that feel unnecessary. What purpose do Larry's female cousins serve? Why take the time to introduce Susan, and then barely include her in the rest of the film? I'm on the fence with Dom DeLuise in drag. Parts are funny and parts just fall flat. He is great, but the material isn't (he won a Razzie for the film). I love Gilda Radner. She was my favorite cast member during her time on SNL (I bought the "Best of Gilda Radner" DVD). Sadly, she didn't have much of a film career before losing her battle with cancer... Watch this for the chance to see her on film.
Not as good as it could be, but still funny (watch DeLuise and Radner perform "Ballin' the Jack").
Haunted Honeymoon (1986) 82 minutes
Director: Gene Wilder
Starring: Gilda Radner as Vickie Pearle
Gene Wilder as Larry Abbot
Dom DeLuise as Aunt Kate
Jonathan Pryce as Charles Abbot
Bryan Pringle as Pfister
Peter Vaughan as Francis Abbot Sr.
Paul L. Smith as Dr. Paul Abbot
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