Here Come the Munsters

I have always been a mad fan of the Munsters. I loved the show when it was on prime time (CBS) from the first time I watched the show in 1964, right till the end when it was canceled in 1966.

I even sent a postcard to CBS in protest of the proposed cancellation. (At least I think I did. If I didn't, well, I wish I did. It's the thought that counts, right?)

When the Munsters hit the silver screen in 1966 with "Munster Go Home", I made it a point not to miss it when it came to a theater near me! I loved the movie!

In 1988, I saw "The Munsters Today". I hated it! The characters may had looked like the original Munsters. But the series was so dry, so bland and so un-funny that it was sheer torture to sit through it. I decided that there was only one "Herman" and only the one and only Fred Gwynne could tackle the role.

In 1995, with the memory of "The Munsters Today" still fresh on my mind, I was apprehensive about watching this TV-movie.

I was pleasantly surprised. It was really funny! The cast was good.

The scene with Herman's first (and last) day as a butler, was classic comedy at its best and alone, well worth the trouble in finding this movie! The surviving members of the original series, making a cameo appearance as "sympathetic customers who thought that Herman, as a waiter, was good", was the icing on the cake.

The cast of "Here Come the Munsters", not only succeeded in continuing where the original (1964-66) cast left off, but obviously won the seal of approval from the surviving cast members, whose cameo appearance was the icing on the cake.

Could you imagine Al Lewis & company making such an appearance on "The Munsters Today"? I can't. I rest my case!

In Transylvania, a raged crowd expels the Munster family from their castle. While escaping from the villagers, Herman (Edward Herrmann) finds a piece of a letter from his sister Elsa Munster Hyde (Judy Gold) and his brother-in-law Norman Hyde (Max Grodénchik) from North America and the family decides to travel to California. When they meet their niece Marilyn (Christine Taylor), they are informed that Norman is missing and his wife is in coma due to her loss. On the next days, the Munster family faces problem with the adaptation in the new country: Lily (Veronica Hamel) meets her snoopy neighbors; Grandpa (Robert Morse) researches in the laboratory a cure for Elsa and finds a videotape that shows what has happened with Norman; and Eddie (Matthew Botuchis) goes to the school and has problem with the local bully. When the candidate to the Senate Brent Jeckyll (Jeff Trachta) arrives in the location in campaign, Grandpa discloses the truth about the past of the bigoted candidate.

"Here Come the Munsters" is a delightful homage to a great TV series. The gags are hilarious, a journey to my childhood, and the cameo appearance of Yvonne de Carlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick and Pat Priest is a plus in this funny, but unfortunately underrated, movie. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Os Monstros Estão de Volta" ("The Monsters Are Back")

I feel this film was very well attempted. I thought the plot was quite interesting and the characters were well portrayed. I especially liked Edward Hermann as Herman Munster. Although this film did change some of the original features in the TV sitcom, such as Marilyn being related on Herman's site instead of Lily's, i think overall, a very good attempt. I wasn't that disappointed with the different house, because this one still looked very creepy and Munster-like. I think it's film worth watching to Munster fans. I especially liked the idea of seeing Herman and Lily's wolf-boy son actually turn into a werewolf on a full moon, as this element was never portrayed in the original sitcom.

A well worth watching film!, a good cast of actors!

This is the best effort yet to update the old series. The acting was good, the casting was good, and it managed to capture some of the feel of the original series. The cameo by the surviving members of the original cast in the restaurant being served by Herman was a nice tip of the hat too. Christine Taylor seems to be doing well playing updated characters, first Marcia Brady, then Marilyn Munster, then Marcia again. Oh well, she looks good here.

Ok, so I'm 23 years behind. I am a major Munsters fan... only of the original show... until now! Actually, I didn't even know that this movie existed until fairly recently.

I was 6 when The Munsters first aired on TV. We watched it whenever the outdoor antenna pulled it in.

When I found out about "The Munsters Today" with new actors playing the roles I didn't have any interest in it. The Munsters were Gwynne, Lewis, De Carlo, Priest and Patrick. Period.

The more that I've read about some of the original actors in these day of infinite information via the WWW, the more I realized that I"m really more a fan of the characters than the actors (though I will always prefer the originals).

I decided to see how bad the replacements were. I was quite surprised. If the original Munsters didn't exist, this would hold it's own very well.

The new actors do try to imitate the original actors for the most part so the originals were foundational to the cast for this movie.

It was actually very entertaining and funny, especially with the inside jokes which original Munsters fans will get. The guest appearance by Yvonne, Al, Pat and Butch was awesome and seems like a stamp of approval and a passing of the baton.

I very much enjoyed the movie and am glad to own it. Nothing will replace the original classic show but "Here Come The Munsters" kept the legacy alive.

Now I have to check out "The Munsters Today." I'm catching up.