Product Description Mel Brooks takes a turn at a classic horror tale. The vampires are loose, but somehow everyone's having a great time, including the undead count himself in Dracula: Dead and Loving It.Bonus Content:Audio Commentary: Commentary by director/co-writer Mel Brooks, co-stars Steven Weber and Amy Yasbeck, and co-writers Rudy De Luca and Steve Haberman .com In 1995, it was promising to hear that Mel Brooks was creating "the companion piece to Young Frankenstein." He had also brought in the heavyweight of deadpan--Leslie Nielsen. As Lt. Frank Drebin in the Police Squad movies, Nielsen has no peer for silly stuff--just the player Brooks would seem to need for a strong movie, as any fan of Brooks perpetually hopes a new film may rekindle his madcap magic. Alas, the end results in Dracula: Dead and Loving It include a sprinkling of amusements and one big belly laugh. Brooks and his writers use a very tight adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel, but the spoofs can be spelled out as we go, as if they are paint-by-number. Some are jabs at Coppola's version of Dracula, but most are attached to classic Dracula films. If any real pleasure comes from the movie it's thanks to the efforts of the cast. Peter MacNicol plays the crazed Renfield to the letter, Steven Weber has a good time as the tight British Harkin, and Lysette Anthony charms as the doomed Lucy. Brooks and Nielsen ham it up just fine. There's even a surprisingly controlled performance by Harvey Korman (a character spoofing Anthony Hopkins's role in the misfire The Road to Wellville). As with Brooks's period comedies, the film looks better than it needs to and includes a few tricky special effects for good measure. This has nothing to do with the audience laughing--we need bigger jokes. And when you double over laughing in one scene--involving a stake through the heart and a bucket of blood--you want the movie to achieve Brooks's days of glory, when hearty laughter was the norm, not an isolated moment. --Doug Thomas
L**M
Good date film! Funny in just the right way.
Watched this movie with the girlfriend, who has a habit of going to sleep on most movies. Not this time. Mel Brooks has given us a real winner. The movie's comedy stems from the fact that in many places it feels like a genuine Dracula movie. Some of the scenery is gorgeous and could be in a a genuine horror film. Most of the acting is "straight." Just when you get comfortable with the movie and it seems to be cruising along as expected, Leslie Nielsen does something genuinely stupid and the wheels come off the cart. It never verges on true horror, but it's just serious enough that when something goes wrong it seem genuinely funny. Still laughing about it several days later. If you're on the fence, my advice is to give it a shot. It made me and my girlfriend laugh.
A**R
A very touching movie.
Loved it!
�**�
Amazing
Hilarious. Leslie Nielsen is just hilarious, and this movie makes fun of all the classic Dracula tropes. Probably my favorite Leslie Nielsen movie.
B**D
They don't make movies this good anymore! Classic 80s early 90s comedy!
I do not like most Halloween movies, but enjoyed this one. It is what you might guess you would get it you combined a Police Academy but with a Vampire and the famous Clue movie set in a Castle, but without the clever murder mystery of Clue. Yes, it is a bit cheesy and ridiculous, but that is what makes it entertaining and funny with a twist for Halloween.
R**D
Brooks' vampire spoof has bite...almost...
When I first heard that Mel Brooks was working on a "companion piece" to his classic horror spoof "Young Frankenstein", I was elated. At the same time, there was a voice in my head saying, "Well, given his recent track record, reserve your enthusiasm until the movie comes out". The result? "Dracula: Dead and Loving It" is pretty much like his later comedies: It has glimmers of the old Brooks comic madness (and genius), but it just fails to be a great film all the way through, as compared to his ultimate Western spoof, "Blazing Saddles". On the other hand, DDALI is actually better than most comedies attempting to spoof movie genres.As usual, Brooks' art direction is lushly rich in style, much like an old technicolor movie. It "looks" perfect. Brooks got a first-rate cast: Peter MacNichol gets to ham it up as Dracula's crazed bug-eating servant, Renfield; the late Harvey Korman returns to the Brooks fold after fifteen years as the stately Dr. Seward, so assured he is in the role which shows what an old pro he was; Steven Weber showing great comic poise as a suitor; both Amy Yasbeck & Lysette Anthony show verve as Dracula's victims; and even Mel's late wife, the wonderful Anne Bancroft, nearly steals the picture in a hilarious cameo as the village gypsy. And Leslie Nielsen is..well..Leslie Nielsen, the Clown Prince of Silliness who turns in a controlled but typically bumbling performance as the famous vampire count. The film briefly spoofs the recent Dracula remake (with Gary Oldman), but then settles firmly on the classic familiar trappings (garlic, mirrors, mind control & wooden stakes) and the classic story. The film certainly has its moments: Nielsen's transformations into a bat & bumbling seductions; MacNichol's frantic mugging; Nielsen's mind control manipulations backfiring; and a "last word" grudge contest between Brooks & Nielsen. But the biggest belly laugh is a throwback to Brooks' outrageous days: Weber--by way of Van Helsing's (Brooks) persuasion--must drive a stake through the heart of Anthony, which results in Weber getting sprayed full on with what looks like gallons of blood. It's gross but hilariously funny.DDALI might not be Brooks' best--nor an equal to "Young Frankenstein"--but there's certainly worse ways to spend your time!
R**C
Hilarious
So hilarious movie. Totally entertaining
P**R
Still a better love story than twilight
Mel Brooks : checkLeslie Neilson : checkrecipe for greatness : completeThis is one of my all time favorite movies, my old disc got ruined so this is a replacement. Shipping was fast and the count arrived unscathed.
B**
Love it
One of my favorite movies with Leslie Nelson
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