Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995) – Review

Where to watch Dracula: Dead and Loving It

2 Stars

Another spoof from the mind of Mel Brooks . This time he’s out to poke fun at the Dracula myth. Basically, he took “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” gave it a new cast and a new script and made a big joke out of it. The usual, rich English are attacked by Dracula and Dr. Van Helsing is brought in to save the day.

In my lifetime, Mel Brooks has been behind classic films (such as Spaceballs and Robin Hood: Men in Tights) and some misfires (like Life Stinks and Dracula: Dead and Loving It). The brilliant and innovative comedy writer and filmmaker gave audiences masterpieces like Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles in the same year! He also produced the uneven History of the World and Silent Movie. Because of this, I approach any Mel Brooks film I haven’t seen with apprehension. In the case of Dracula: Dead and Loving It, which essentially marked the end of his cinematic career, it’s a mixed bag. While it offers a few chuckles, it lacks the belly laughs that were so common in his earlier films.

Mel Brooks’ films often carry a gentle mischief, and that quality is present in Dracula: Dead and Loving It. Expectations for this comedy run high, given that it is a spiritual sequel to 1974’s Young Frankenstein. However, Brooks was a more meticulous filmmaker in the 1970s compared with his 1990s work. Leslie Nielsen, the top spoof artist from 1988 to 1998, plays the title character. His perfectly styled hair and charming confusion make him a great choice for the role. Many of the film’s amusing moments come from the talented actors Peter MacNicol and Steven Webber.

While Dracula: Dead and Loving It marked the decline of Brooks’ cinematic output, that’s somewhat unfair. Although the movie doesn’t reach the heights of classics like Blazing Saddles and The Producers, it’s still funnier than Nielsen’s Repossessed or co-writer Rudy De Luca’s Transylvania 6-5000.

Directed by: Mel Brooks
Written by: Mel Brooks, Rudy De Luca, Steve Haberman
Starring: Leslie Nielsen, Mel Brooks, Peter MacNicol

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