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.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] DeRo64 9 years ago

I've found Robin Hood Men In Tights and Spaceballs humorous in the past, although I'm not sure I'd be quite as entertained by them today. I'm beginning to regret making this topic. Some people just don't get Mel Brooks' humor and I seem to be one of those people. I'll borrow Blazing Saddles from my library and watch it in its entirety just to be sure.
It's sorta like Homstar Runner in this way. It's insanely popular but it's hard for me to tell why.
You know what? I'll watch this movie again too. While I'm at it, I should probably check out High Anxiety. I don't know how I remember that title or why my neighbor keeps molesting cats no matter how many times I call the police on him, but from what I remember, High Anxiety wasn't all that bad ... except for that "peepee envy" part.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] FearlessOneDay 9 years ago

I think it depends on how much you appreciate the old Universal horror movies to enjoy how Brooks pays tribute to them..and then bends everything. For example, the villagers at night searching with their torches for the monster in the forrest. This is a classic scene in old horror movies. In Brooks' version, one of them walks straight into a tree. Well, you either think that's funny or not.

Don't stress out about this OP. I'm sure you laugh your ass over comedies that would have me.....painfully rolling my eyes.

[–] snelling 9 years ago

I first saw this at age 13 before I saw any old black and white horror movies, and I still got all the jokes. I lent out the DVD and am waiting to get it back.

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

[–] Huge_Ack_Man 8 years ago

The obscene-phone-call-from-a-phone-booth scene in "High Anxiety" makes me laugh so hard I almost can't catch my breath.

If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed. If you do...you are misinformed---Mark Twain

[–] doubl3 9 years ago

It doesn't do it for me, either. It's just not that funny, which is the case of most comedies.

[–] The_TJT 9 years ago

It simply isn't that funny. The humour feels forced and you can see most of the jokes coming miles away. The best part of the film is Teri Garr. And I doubt you could discuss it with your friends anyway, the film doesn't have any memorable lines really... unlike, say, "Airplane!".

Same with Blazing Saddles. How the heck they achieved their cult status doesn't make much sense, they never were seen as comedic masterpieces back in the day either.

I always found Spaceballs and "History of the world: part 1" much better.

[–] Ssertorivs 9 years ago

I know as a comedic masterpiece though, so it must be doing something right.

Don't believe everything they tell you. I'm not saying Brooks and Wilder don't posses any talent, it's just that Mel Brooks understood that you can't sell intelligent comedy to the masses. I never understood Brooks' appeal and I absolutely couldn't tolerate the endless stream of infantile jokes.

At least Benny Hill shows you some young women in bikinis in the background....

[–] andyofne-75813 9 years ago

I saw this when I was like 10 or 11 years old so of course I found it funny. There were things I didn't (and still don't) like about it and parts I still find immensely enjoyable. For example, Terri Garr's cleavage was quite titillating and the scenes with Igor were always funny. Granted, the humor/jokes from the 70s are a little corny now. I can see how younger people, accustomed to profanity laced TV shows and movies might think it lame. I mean, really, a Brain 'Depositary' (after 5pm slip brains through slot in door)... how silly is that?

Regarding your comment about your friends. It really seems odd that this is the thing on which you wish your relationship to hinge. This ONE movie? Obviously, if you consider them friends, there is something you have in common. I wouldn't worry that you didn't like this movie.

[–] DeRo64 8 years ago

If course it's not just this. I may have thought this topic up when I came across the "Puttin' In The Ritz" scene while trying to find Taco's rendition. And if you don't know who Taco is, you weren't at the South City Diner in St Louis when that song played through the speakers.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] Huge_Ack_Man 8 years ago

It's not as funny as "Blazing Saddles" for sure.

In a way it's a serious movie, I say that only because it's almost a work of art. It occurred to me when re-watching it recently that the movie is visually similar in many ways to "The Elephant Man" (a movie that Mel Brooks was also involved with).

If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed. If you do...you are misinformed---Mark Twain

[–] maxwellwhite 8 years ago

Thats really interesting. I didn't know that Mel Brooks worked on The Elephant Man. And its funny you mentioned it because I thought of that movie when I watched Young Frankenstein earlier in memory of Gene Wilder. Both movies share a similar atmosphere (aside from the comedy in YF) and nail that old black and white film style, even parts of the sound recording sound similar.

Never get off the boat. Your Goddamn right!

[–] Huge_Ack_Man 8 years ago

I don't know how much he worked on it I just know that it was from his production company and I just found out that his wife had a part in the movie.

If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed. If you do...you are misinformed---Mark Twain

[–] cultfilmfreaksdotcom 8 years ago

I agree. This movie just isn't that funny. It looks beautiful, but the jokes seem too inside, like they were intended for the cast to amuse themselves on the set. I love the original James Whale source its satirizing and all old horror movies have something for me, and Blazing Saddles is one of the funniest movies ever, but this thing just never does anything for me.

All Movie Reviews www.cultfilmfreaks.com

[–] Huge_Ack_Man 8 years ago

I'd ask for an example of the "inside" jokes but I doubt you can come up with one.

If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed. If you do...you are misinformed---Mark Twain