MovieChat Forums > Young Frankenstein (1974) Discussion > I just don't get the appeal.

I just don't get the appeal.

posted 10 years ago by DeRo64
30 replies | jump to latest

I wish I did, because then I could talk to my friends about it (we don't have a lot of common interests), but it just doesn't do it for me. It's insanely popular and considered by many I know as a comedic masterpiece though, so it must be doing something right. Are there certain movies I should see before watching this again, or am I forever doomed to emotionally miss out on a film that everyone else seems to consider a classic?
I know the phrase, "A joke isn't funny if you have to explain it," but in this case an explanation might be necessary. So please tell me why this is so funny and why it's a sensational classic.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Professor_Jarrod 10 years ago

It couldn't hurt to check out the first three 1930's Universal films then give YF another shot. The films are:
"Frankenstein" - 1931
"Bride of Frankenstein" - 1935
"Son of Frankenstein" - 1939

Much of the humor in YF sends up scenes from those three features. All three can be found on a Universal Frankenstein DVD Boxset from the 90's. Horror Movie icon Boris Karloff plays the Monster in all three.

[–] Ssertorivs 9 years ago

Much of the humor in YF sends up scenes from those three features.

The hallmark of comedy....

[–] annmason24 10 years ago

Young Frankenstein is strange in that it is not always funny in a group with mainly new viewers. And it is not consistently funny even to the same person.

I once saw some deleted scenes, and they were so bad that I realized perhaps the finished film wasn`t that great either; maybe it was the result of great editing.

But I do like the movie because I like any dark castle scary fun flick. There were a couple of great gags also. I loved Murder By Death!

Yes, Young Frankenstein is a satire or parody that is done very well, it reminds me of "Airplane". All the characters have already been invented and presented; the joke is that they are different, but deadpan; like Leslie Nielson`s doctor character in Airplane (don`t call me Shirley!).

But not to worry, not everyone Airplane either, especially if they hadn`t seen the original. If I were you, I would check out the films Young Frankenstein is parady(ing).

[–] mad_roke 9 years ago

if you haven't seen any old monster movies (particularly the Universal monster movies and ofc especially Frankenstein) then you'll not get the appeal anyways.

I mean half of the jokes in Spaceballs also go over your head if you've never seen Star Wars

[–] marousha_n 8 years ago

I haven't seen any old monster movie and I found YF to be hillarious. One of the best comedies I have seen.

"Relics of ancient times. Lonely cenotaphs. Standing along that melancholy tideland."

[–] chamohlamb 9 years ago

It's a spoof of the old Universal horror movies. If you love those films, then YF is amazing.

[–] dannieboy20906 9 years ago

It is hilarious because of well-timed ironic juxtapositions. If I need to explain it, it does not appeal to you. Sometimes a poem, a painting, a sculpture, or a film is like that. Comedy, as well as profound revelation happens, or it doesn't.

The best diplomat I know is a fully charged phaser bank.

[–] sage2112 9 years ago

Well ... and it was pretty pioneering. Spoof movies like Airplane! got a kickstart from YF.

[–] snelling 9 years ago

Why don't you and your friends have common interests? Maybe make friends with someone with common interests instead. Since DeRo64 has not returned in eight months, I am smelling a troll.

"I will not go down in history as the greatest mass-murderer since Adolf Hitler!" - Merkin Muffley

[–] DeRo64 9 years ago

No, I'm still here. My inbox gets flooded almost everyday so I don't always get alerted to the replies, but I've been in unsubscribing from several newsletters and I intend to unsubscribe from more of them so it shouldn't be as much ofba problem in the future. I'm sick if Groupon and Facebook alerts anyway.