Every year, my best friend and I gather a collection of our ‘traditional
marathon movies’ and watch them like crazy on Halloween. The night always
starts with Love at First Bite. Not only is it one of Hamilton’s funniest
movies, but he’s also playing Dracula. I’d also like to add that it’s a
quote-able movie, with plenty of awesome lines to go around.
The atmosphere at the beginning is great: fog, candle-light,
howling wolves and Dracula in tails. In short, they’ve nailed the Tod Browning
feel. Renfield is amazingly neurotic, creepy, funny, and…funny. The whole
picture is nice and light, like a good appetizer before you sink your teeth
into the main dish.
Dracula longs for the company of a woman, Cindy Sondheim, a
model in New York. Now Dracula is pretty much always on the prowl, in any and
all incarnations he’s ever taken. It’s no surprise then, that Cindy Sondheim is
the reincarnation of his true love…Mina Harker. Instead of wasting away longing
for her company and reading gossip magazines, though…he’s ousted by the
government so his castle can be converted into a training facility for young
athletes. This is the perfect opportunity to finally pursue the woman of his
dreams.
And what’s an eviction notice without an angry mob of
villagers?
He finds her, they spend the evening together, and
then-Dracula gets to meet her psychiatrist/occasional love interest…Van Helsing’s
grandson. They don't get on.
I’ll leave all the juicy bits out for anyone unfamiliar with this
movie to discover on his or her own, but chances are that if you like Tootsie…and
if you like Dracula in any form…you’ll probably like this. No, there sadly isn’t
any drag, but it really brings Tootsie to mind anyway. I guess it’s the time
period…or the setting…or the wig. Not sure. I’ll get back to you on that.
