Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)

Let's be realistic.

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Alright, I admit it's not a great comedy. Still, it's oddly enjoyable. Part of this is due to the likable cast. They seem to be having a good time. I'm a fan of classic monster movies so that's an added bit of fun for me. I also really liked the Yugoslavian locations where it was shot. I don't know how else to explain it but to say it's a fun movie. Not funny, but fun. Hope that makes sense. The most memorable part of the movie is Geena Davis' incredibly sexy vampire. I think children of the '80s will appreciate it for its nostalgic value. So...yeah, it' s not going to make you snort milk out of your nose but it's a good time. If nothing else, see it for Geena's cleavage.

Hey, they've taken the title of an old Glenn Miller hit and replaced Pennsylvania with Transylvania—isn't that hilarious? Well, actually, no, it isn't—and neither is anything else about this film!A dreadful comedy/horror with a surprisingly decent cast, this has got to be one of the least amusing movie experiences I've ever had. Written and directed by regular Mel Brooks collaborator Rudy De Luca, the film is a desperate attempt to replicate Brooks' 'madcap' style, but which falls flat on its face thanks to the dreadfully weak material and ill-advised improvisational performances that result in some truly ludicrous moments that defy description. Bizarre it most certainly is, but on what plane of existence it could ever be considered funny I really haven't a clue.Michael Richards baffles as demented butler Fejos; Carol Kane and John Byner irritate as kooky kitchen staff Lupi and Radu; a manic Joseph Bologna maddens as doctor Malavaqua; and Goldblum and Begley Jr. do their utmost to emulate Abbot and Costello's buddy-buddy style banter, but fail in every respect, the pair lacking any chemistry whatsoever. The only person whose performance I enjoyed was Geena Davis, on account of her revealing vampire costume—but even Geena in sexy goth get-up isn't worth sitting through this garbage for.

Two tabloid reporters head to modern Transylvania - now a charming eastern European tourist trap - in pursuit of a story about monsters, and find the place over-run with vampires, mummies, werewolves etc. Ed Begley Jr. and Jeff Goldblum have good on-screen chemistry together as the luckless writers, but the script does them few favors. The tone of the movie is all over the place, aiming for wacky and scary by turns, but that sort of approach (familiar to Abbott and Costello fans) takes finesse that is not on display here. The production designers worked hard to create an attractive and convincing modern monster movie setting and mostly succeeded, but the script has a too-many-rewrites-by- committee feel and the material is very weak for the most part. Geena Davis has a very appealing bit as a beautiful vampire wannabe, but most of the supporting performances are not well fleshed out and are occasionally just absurd. Joseph Bologna, as always, chews the scenery outrageously as a mad scientist, plus Michael Richards is just annoying and unfunny as a clumsy bellhop. There are a few genuine laughs here and Davis' first appearance in vampire gear is worth a rewind, but most of the movie is just exasperatingly unfunny and tiresome. Avoid.

Seems like this movie is a case of you'll either love it or hate it. I actually surprisingly much liked it and the movie really made me laugh numerous times! It's a comedy done Mel Brooks-style. So lots of the humor is being very simplistic and childish and all of the characters are being very over-the-top and crazy. Obviously not a movie to take serious in any way and it's not really being one that tries to make sense with its story. No big surprise this movie feels Mel Brooks like, since director Rudy De Luca has written on a couple of Mel Brooks movies. Not Brooks his best ones though, needs to be said.It really are the actors and all of its funny one-liners that make this movie such a joy to watch. You can tell that most of the actors were improvising their way through this movie and especially Michael Richards was on a roll with it. His antics really made me laugh. While watching this movie it's obvious to see how how much fun the actors were having with this movie. This is also really what helps to make this movie such an enjoyable one to watch, even though it's really not being a great movie by any means.It has quite some well known names in it but some suit their roles better than others. I mean, I'm sorry but I just never saw Ed Begley Jr. as a good comedy actor. Jeff Goldblum, Carol Kane and Jeffrey Jones on the other hand are for instance some great picks for their roles.They present a plot in this movie but does it really matter? The movie really isn't about its story and once you actually start analyzing it, it is quite a bad and unoriginal story, that doesn't even make sense. I mean, didn't the film-makers know that the Frankenstein creature doesn't come from Transylvania at all and also has nothing to do with it at all. But oh well, I understand that Transylvania has a more familiar ring to it than Vasaria. And there still is a vampire in this movie as well, as is a wolf man. So plenty of well known horror material present in this movie that gets spoofed.Really too bad that the movie doesn't manage to remain consistently funny and entertaining throughout. It's last half hour or so just isn't up to par with the rest of the movie, probably because they suddenly started to focus more on its plot and story at that point. You could easily do without its last half hour but be sure to watch the first hour though, when you're in for some good silly laughs.It ain't no "Young Frankenstein" but it's more than good and funny in its own way!7/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/