“What hump?” —Igor
Today’s quick review: Young Frankenstein. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder), the grandson of the infamous Victor von Frankenstein, inherits his grandfather’s estate in Transylvania. With it comes a peculiar manservant named Igor (Marty Feldman), a buxom lab assistant named Inga (Teri Garr), and a legacy of morbid research. Though determined to live down his family name, Frederick finds himself drawn to his grandfather’s unfinished work: the reanimation of a human corpse (Peter Boyle).
Young Frankenstein is a parody of the Frankenstein movies from Mel Brooks. Featuring quotable jokes, a remarkable cast, and an unusually coherent story, Young Frankenstein manages to swap horror for comedy with no loss in quality. The movie has all the trappings of the original—black-and-white cinematography, a gothic horror setting, and even props from the first movie—giving it just the right ambience to be an effective spoof.
Young Frankenstein does an excellent job of balancing its story and its humor. The plot follows in the footsteps of the original Frankenstein, but with a reluctant protagonist, a comical cast, and an altogether lighter tone. The dramatic elements of the story make its humor all the more absurd while keeping just enough pathos to make the story resonate. The humor earns laughs without ever trampling the story, giving Young Frankenstein a strong and steady tone.
The movie’s style of humor should be familiar to Mel Brooks fans: eccentric characters, slapstick, wordplay, sight gags, and general silliness. While not quite as far-fetched as the ones in some of Brooks’ films, the jokes are some of Brooks’ most memorable and entertaining. Brought to life by a talented cast, the jokes are always funny and often hysterical.
The cast is one of the finest assembled for a comedy. Gene Wilder plays Frederick, an increasingly unstable scientist who retains his basic humanity. Teri Garr conveys both innocence and innuendo as Inga, while Madeline Kahn throws herself into the role of Elizabeth, Frederick’s irritating fiance. Peter Boyle plays a sympathetic Monster, at once a horrible creature and an innocent, long-suffering soul. To top it all off, Marty Feldman steals the show as Igor, Victor’s cheerful, mouthy assistant, in a performance like no other.
Watch Young Frankenstein if you are even a casual fan of comedy. Young Frankenstein is Mel Brooks’ finest work, an enduring comedy that works on all levels. Skip it only if you dislike comedy as a whole.
8.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it the same for enduring humor and great performances.