Grimerlana Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Cleveronix A different way of telling a story

Curapedi I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Candida It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Coventry Let me come straight to the point with this one and admit that "Mad Monster Party?" nearly wasn't as good or as much fun as I hoped it would be. The actual plot is rather weak, the film is overlong, a large amount of the gags entirely miss their effect and there's way too much singing and dancing going on. What the hell was that about? Someone really ought to add the tag "musical" to the genre description here on the film's IMDb page! But on the other hand, I can't possibly be too harsh or overly critical about a movie that pays so much tribute to my all-time favorite genre of cinema and all of its legendary contributors! All minor defaults and shortcomings aside, "Mad Monster Party?" is a warm-spirited, enthusiast and freshly inventive ode to (classic) horror from the 1930's to the 1960's. As a European kid born in the 80's, I'm not too familiar with the works of Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass, and I never watched any of the "Frosty the Snowman" or "Rudolf the Red-Nose Reindeer" cartoons as child. But the simple fact that these men managed to cast the awesome Boris Karloff himself in order to voice the Baron Von Frankenstein pivot character more than enough proves to me that they know and respect a great deal of the horror genre. Up in the tower of his castle on the remote Isle of Evil, Baron Von Frankenstein just finished his latest and greatest invention; an all-destructive liquid in a tube! In order to celebrate his invention, and primarily also to make an important announcement, he invites all of his monster friends over to the island. And oh yes, all the protagonists from the brilliant horror milestones (Universal and others) attend the monster mash: Count Dracula, the Wolf Man, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Frankenstein's creature and his bride, the Mummy, The Invisible Man, the Creature from Black Lagoon, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and an uninvited mystery guest referred to as "it". However, the party turns sour and hostile when the monsters learn that Baron Von Frankenstein will announce his retirement and that he will hand over all of his secret formulas to a nerdy outsider – his nephew – instead of to one of them. The newly added character of Francesca, the Baron's voluptuous and sly secretary, is still original, but other side-characters like butler Yetch (with a voice reminiscent of Peter Lorre), Chef Machiavelli and even Felix Flanken are quite redundant. Instead of giving lines and lyrics to them, I personally would have much preferred that the parts of the familiar monster favorites were a bit more extended. Most of them don't have anything to do, except to howl and groan occasionally. The Claymation is inarguably wonderful and still very admirable even by today's high standards. I bet that even nowadays clay-wizards like Adam Elliot ("Mary and Max") or Peter Lord ("Wallace & Gromit") are big fans of these designs and that they couldn't do a better job.

luiz-antonio29 The simplicity of the "Mad Monster Party?" was exactly what enchanted people and made it success. Thinking that a comedy movie with toys from 1967 can still make people awake and intrigued with the story in 94 minutes is something really, really honorable.The film is about a party that Doctor Frankenstein organizes to decide what (famous) monster will be your successor and in this party a lot of famous characters from books and movies that are famous until today (like the own Frankenstein, Dracula, Invisible Man and others) met and begin a dispute to win the succession of Doctor Frankenstein.Songs are really present in "Mad Monster Party" and take part of the magic from the movie because they have good lyrics, good interpreters and happen at the right time. Other positive point is the end, that surprises everyone.Maybe the children of today aren't ready to watch a movie fully made with toys, but if the film had been make with computer effects it wouldn't be as funny as it is. Of course.PS.: The tribute to The Beatles in a song is perfect. Actually, the best scene of the movie.

MarieGabrielle this Halloween party. This along with "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" a Rankin Bass production, are special because they are not just flat animations. Many kids (even at age 7 or 8) get bored with regular animation, and this is so much more life-like. The "Invisible Man" Dracula, "The Mummy", "Werewolf", and all the rest. Each character seems so much more real, especially to a child.This is worth seeking out since most children seem to enjoy the creativity of this. What a shame we do not have productions like this today. I for one would rather have my child watch something entertaining and creative, instead of Billy Bob Thornton as a drunk Santa Claus. 8/10.

EvilSpaceApple Self-consciously cute, sometimes funny and sometimes just forced and silly, decidedly overlong all-star creature feature in Animagic from Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass, the folks who brought us the most enjoyable "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer" around the same time. "Mad Monster Party?" (I never got the use of the question mark at the end of the title) certainly has its moments, but after the first third or so, we've got the idea and aren't necessarily hankering after another hour's worth of more or less the same. Possibly the length of "MMP?"--that of the typical live-action feature--is part of the joke, but I doubt it. The cutest and funniest character is Francesca, the husky-voiced, scarlet-haired vamp who has the movie's best lines. Edited by about fifteen minutes, it could have quite possibly earned 7 or even 8 stars (since I tend to be generous with puppets as it is); the way it stands, it's more than a curiosity but short of a classic. By all means worth a look, especially if you love the Bumble from "Rudolf" or that special's deformed inhabitants of the Isle of Misfit Toys, but just don't bring a set of high expectations, or you'll bound to feel a bit of a let-down...the way I did.