Comedy and horror beautifully entwine as Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder take on Universal's Frankenstein world.
A medical lecturer discovers that his grandfather has left his Transylvanian estate to him, although it's no ordinary estate, and he's no ordinary heir: this medical lecturer is the grandchild of Dr. Frankenstein.
Rather resilient to acknowledge and accept his Frankenstein surname, he finds himself often attempting to ignore the fame and query regarding his famous grandfather and his monstrous creation. Although, once reaching the estate, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein begins to embrace his name, and too creates a monster.
Despite its beautifully filmed scenes in black and white, with many homages to the black and white era of Dracula and Frankenstein films in the early 1930's , Young Frankenstein ensures that the viewer knows just who they're watching: two of the largest comedians in time at work. Scenes are filled with lighthearted idiocies amidst their medieval eeriness; familiar noir tropes of thunder and heavy rain haunt the castle.
At its core, Young Frankenstein is just an extremely well-made spoof, and can easily compete with some of the originals, if you're willing to let some of the comedy slide.