Haunted Honeymoon (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
In 'Haunted Honeymoon', Gene Wilder (who co-writes, directs, & stars, here) plays neurotic Manhattan Mystery Theater radio actor, Larry Abbott. On the eve of his wedding to radio show co-star Vickie Pearle (Wilder's real life wife, Gilda Radner), his memories of a childhood trauma involving his mother cause him to experience strange mood swings. So, Larry's psychiatrist uncle (a monstrous Paul Smith) nefariously arranges for him & Vickie to spend what's intended to be a calm weekend at his Aunt Kate's gothic castle-like mansion way upstate. Aunt Kate (Dom DeLuise in drag) runs the show at her gloomy mansion {she makes a wonderful entrance (silhouetted by flashing lightning) as she slides down her enormous wood banister from the 2nd floor down to the 1st}.
Aunt Kate loves her nephew Larry very much, but can't help being as bizarre as possible; including babbling on about a local werewolf that's ravaging the land. Though Larry would have wanted a quiet, relaxing weekend with his fiancee in the countryside, his entire kooky family gathers there, & a series of madcap events occur as a mysterious murderer tries to kill off Larry to get Kate's massive fortune. But who is behind the scare-you-to-death happenings around the castle? And who is the killer!? Funny how it seems that everyone in the cast (family members, cooks, butlers, outsiders) has a motive.
This film was a staple in my household growing up. Borrowing similar material from such wonderful predecessors as Abbott & Costello, Clue, & Young Frankenstein ... 'Haunted Honeymoon' shines as a small, but loveable horror story farce. Gene Wilder is not as hysterical as he was IN Young Frankenstein, but he still makes for a great neurotic lead. His expressions, his physical comedy, the fear his exudes to us (scaredy cat) throughout the story ... it's all fantastic. One of my favorite scenes involving Wilder is in the cellar with a dead body (its legs are hanging out of a laundry basket) and the police think the legs are Gene's. I also loved that the song 'Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf' pops up throughout the film (whether it's whistled, or played on an organ).
Another favorite scene of mine is when Dom DeLuise (as Aunt Kate) & Gilda Radner belt out "Ballin' the Jack". It's just such a random, but joyous scene in the middle of the movie. I'm smiling thinking about it right now. And you know, there was NO need to have that song in this film. It was silly. But that's kinda the point. This movie aims to generate lots of smiles as you watch. The ensemble cast - including a villainous Jonathan Pryce, & Bryan Pringle as the alcoholic butler, Pfister - are funny. The castle setting is wonderfully haunting. The scares are fresh. The simple story is told with charm, clarity, wit & humor. I could go on & on. It may not have received amazing reviews at its time of release. But for me, it's a childhood classic.
Aunt Kate loves her nephew Larry very much, but can't help being as bizarre as possible; including babbling on about a local werewolf that's ravaging the land. Though Larry would have wanted a quiet, relaxing weekend with his fiancee in the countryside, his entire kooky family gathers there, & a series of madcap events occur as a mysterious murderer tries to kill off Larry to get Kate's massive fortune. But who is behind the scare-you-to-death happenings around the castle? And who is the killer!? Funny how it seems that everyone in the cast (family members, cooks, butlers, outsiders) has a motive.
This film was a staple in my household growing up. Borrowing similar material from such wonderful predecessors as Abbott & Costello, Clue, & Young Frankenstein ... 'Haunted Honeymoon' shines as a small, but loveable horror story farce. Gene Wilder is not as hysterical as he was IN Young Frankenstein, but he still makes for a great neurotic lead. His expressions, his physical comedy, the fear his exudes to us (scaredy cat) throughout the story ... it's all fantastic. One of my favorite scenes involving Wilder is in the cellar with a dead body (its legs are hanging out of a laundry basket) and the police think the legs are Gene's. I also loved that the song 'Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf' pops up throughout the film (whether it's whistled, or played on an organ).
Another favorite scene of mine is when Dom DeLuise (as Aunt Kate) & Gilda Radner belt out "Ballin' the Jack". It's just such a random, but joyous scene in the middle of the movie. I'm smiling thinking about it right now. And you know, there was NO need to have that song in this film. It was silly. But that's kinda the point. This movie aims to generate lots of smiles as you watch. The ensemble cast - including a villainous Jonathan Pryce, & Bryan Pringle as the alcoholic butler, Pfister - are funny. The castle setting is wonderfully haunting. The scares are fresh. The simple story is told with charm, clarity, wit & humor. I could go on & on. It may not have received amazing reviews at its time of release. But for me, it's a childhood classic.