Unlike other recent reboots that I won't bother naming, Rob Zombie's remake of the most iconic spooky family captured the ham and cheese as well as the lovable spirit that made the show as popular as it was. Critics seem to entirely be: 1) Zombie fans who love his more graphic work and for reasons unknown, expected a G rated show's remake to be the same way 2) young fans with no familiarity to the original show and 3) baby boomers who would rather see a beloved franchise die off than refreshed and revitalised in a reboot that attracted a new generation of fans.
Jeff was actually quite a likable teen Herman, Sheri was the weakest spot but did her best and made my favourite sitcom character ever an adorable goth teenybopper, but Dan Roebuck truly stole the show as the perfect successor to Al Lewis' saucy but genial Grandpa. (And the Butch and Pat cameos were great.) Most of the side characters are pretty fun, notably the rat-obsessed Orlock and Lily's shady brother Lester. The sets and costumes are probably the best part; you can really see the love for the original series here in the aesthetics. The music is good too; several hits like "Disco Vampire" as well as a score taken directly out of a classic old time sitcom.
It's a comfort movie and one of the better Halloween movies I've seen in awhile. It's a fun bit of escapism and an admirable love letter to the iconic show.
Spiritually True to the Show We Love
Unlike other recent reboots that I won't bother naming, Rob Zombie's remake of the most iconic spooky family captured the ham and cheese as well as the lovable spirit that made the show as popular as it was. Critics seem to entirely be: 1) Zombie fans who love his more graphic work and for reasons unknown, expected a G rated show's remake to be the same way 2) young fans with no familiarity to the original show and 3) baby boomers who would rather see a beloved franchise die off than refreshed and revitalised in a reboot that attracted a new generation of fans.
Jeff was actually quite a likable teen Herman, Sheri was the weakest spot but did her best and made my favourite sitcom character ever an adorable goth teenybopper, but Dan Roebuck truly stole the show as the perfect successor to Al Lewis' saucy but genial Grandpa. (And the Butch and Pat cameos were great.) Most of the side characters are pretty fun, notably the rat-obsessed Orlock and Lily's shady brother Lester. The sets and costumes are probably the best part; you can really see the love for the original series here in the aesthetics. The music is good too; several hits like "Disco Vampire" as well as a score taken directly out of a classic old time sitcom.
It's a comfort movie and one of the better Halloween movies I've seen in awhile. It's a fun bit of escapism and an admirable love letter to the iconic show.