Frankenstein and Me (1996) User Reviews

Above Average Family Entertainment

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 17 March 2005]

Earl Williams (Jamieson Boulanger) is a dreamer teenager obsessed with monsters, who fantasizes his life as if he were living in the world of the monsters of the Universal Studios. Although being an excellent student, his intolerant and nasty school teacher Mrs. Perdue (Louise Fletcher) does not like him and punishes him for any minor fault. His supportive father Les Williams (Burt Reynolds) is also a dreamer, who has never been successful in life. When his father dies, his mother becomes lost with two boys, and tries to change the behavior of Earl. One day, the boy finds the "true Frankenstein" lost by a Carnival, and decides to bring the monster back to life. "Frankenstein and Me" is a story with ups and downs, but it is attractive most of the time, having a great message in the end. I saw it in a VHS horribly dubbed in Portuguese, with mistakes in the translation, but anyway this movie is an above average family entertainment. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Frankenstein"

an Underatted and Obscure 90s Family Film for any Monster Lover both Young and Old

[sandlot1992 · 6/10 · 24 October 2023]

I first saw Frankenstein and Me on the Disney Channel back in the late 90s during Halloween, and I revisited it again on YouTube back in 2014 considering that this movie had probably been forgotten and never gotten a DVD release to this very day. Robert Tinnell is remarkable for directing this almost-forgotten family film set in the early 70s (unlike most movies set during that period such as Now and Then & Almost Famous) and the story involves Earl Williams (Jamieson Boulanger) being a certain Daydreamer and Monster fan along with his little Brother Larry (Ricky Mabe) by the time his failed Actor Father (played by Burt Williams) passed away from a Heart Attack on Halloween night 1970 and now he is left alone with his little brother and his Mother (Myriam Cyr). One day, the Carnival comes to town and joins his best friend Kenny (played by Ryan Gosling) and Karen for some fun until he discovers the Frankenstein Monster Dummy that falls off the back of a Carnival Truck and soon finds a way to bring it back to life. Now I really enjoyed this film after seeing it on Youtube and even Louise Fletcher (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) is remarkable for playing Earl's Teacher, the Story is very good and the music score is very nice and had some sad moments as well and the scenes of Earl Williams' daydreams pay homage to the Classic Universal Studios Monsters films of the 1930s thru 1940s and Hammerhead Horror Films of the late 50's and early 60's, if for those who have not seen this movie is probably worth watching once if for those who have seen the Monster Squad (1987).

A clever, touching and entertaining treat for monster-lovers

[Bryan-43 · 8/10 · 29 March 1999]

For those of us who grew up with cinematic monsters, Frankenstein and Me is not only a poignant trip down memory lane, but a validation of secret childhood wonder-feelings that monsters do exist and, if one believes strongly enough, anything is possible. Director Robert Tinnell and his crew (filming exteriors on the very edge of the Mojave desert in Victorville, California while shooting the interiors in Montreal, Canada) have put their heart and soul into this production, creating beautiful, finely detailed sets and scenarios that stand as loving homages to such films as Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Brides of Dracula and Night of the Living Dead. Don't be fooled into thinking Frankenstein and Me is just a `children's film.' As Tinnell put it, this is not so much a kid's movie as a fan's movie. Clever, touching and entertaining, Frankenstein and Me is tailor-made for every monster-lover whose heart has remained true to his or her childhood dreams.

A look at Tinnell's FRANKENSTEIN AND ME with fondness

[Ron-142 · 10/10 · 17 October 2000]

FRANKENSTEIN & ME (1995) Director Robert Tinnell has brought back all of those childhood memories and fears....parents, arguments and the love of monsters. A carny comes to town featuring a sideshow that has the "real" Frankenstein monster. The body of the monster falls off a truck at night when the show leaves town. A 12-year old hides the crate containing the body, in hopes of a stormy night, to revive it! Burt Reynolds, in a restrained role, plays the boy's father. A loving look back at the Universal monster movies and those of us who grew up in the sixties putting together Aurora models. And most of all, an age-old theme is driven home perfectly -- follow your dreams.

A must-see for monster lovers with kids.

[bymarkclark.com · 8/10 · 10 February 2000]

Fun and surprisingly touching account of a troubled by imaginative young boy who plots a fanciful feat straight out of James Whale. Director Bob Tinnell is a student of horror cinema, and a handful of dream sequences invoke the spirit of classic Universal and Hammer monster classics. Set during the early 1970s, Tinnell and his crew evoke the period with the precision of bigger budget films like THE ICE STORM and DAZED AND CONFUSED. One of those rare and wonderful films which, although aimed at younger audiences, which can be enjoyed by all members of the family. A must-see for monster lovers with kids.

Smart, scary, and funny all at the same time! [spoilers]

[jellyneckr · 20 August 2001]

I saw FRANKENSTEIN AND ME on the Disney Channel one night and enjoyed it. I found it to be smart, scary, and funny all at the same time. It's about a boy named Earl Williams. Earl is obsessed with monsters. I really liked Earl because just like him, I am obsessed with monsters. Anyway, on Halloween night Earl and his buddies visit a traveling carnival. The carnival owner says that he has an "Authentic" monster. When the carnival people leave, the monster falls of the back of a truck and Earl steals it. Being the monster lover that he is, he trys to bring the monster back to life. The scenes where he is trying to bring the monster back to life are the scariest [but they aren't too scary], the scenes with Earl's friends are the funniest, and the carnival scene is one of the most clever scenes I have seen in a movie in a long time. I found the movie a little bit too creepy to be on The Disney Channel, but maybe that's because I get scared easily. If you like monster movies, you'll love FRANKENSTEIN AND ME!!!