Hey_Sweden Review of My Best Friend Is a Vampire

My Best Friend Is a Vampire (1987)

Nothing special but not bad either.

[6/10 · 6 April 2012]

Jeremy Capello (Robert Sean Leonard) has more problems than the Typical Teenager. After being seduced by mystery lady Nora (Cecilia Peck), he finds out that she's a vampire, and now he's one too. A wise old blood sucker named Modoc (Rene Auberjonois) appears to help him make the adjustment to his new life, while a stubborn vampire hunter, McCarthy (David Warner) and his bumbling assistant (Paul Willson) repeatedly pop up, determined to kill Jeremy's friend Ralph (Evan Mirand), whom they've assumed to be the newly minted night crawler. "My Best Friend is a Vampire" is absolutely no great shakes, with no real comedy fireworks, but it's still quite likable and fairly entertaining, with some funny moments. Among them is seeing Jeremy getting used to his new attributes - the craving for raw meat, keeping his fridge well stocked with pig's blood, realizing he no longer casts a reflection in mirrors, and all while attempting to get a relationship with Darla Blake (Cheryl Pollak) going. It's also a gas to watch the amusing Warner, eight years after playing a hunter / killer of vampire bats in "Nightwing", and Willson, whom you may recognize as one of the barflies on 'Cheers', fumble their way through their mission. The supporting cast is quite strong in general, with the always solid Auberjonois a joy to watch; Fannie Flagg and Kenneth Kimmins are the perplexed parents, Kathy Bates has a small role as Darla's mother, and Amelia Kinkade a.k.a. Angela from "Night of the Demons" makes a brief appearance as a brunette dancer in the punk bar. A lively pop / rock soundtrack adds to the enjoyment, as do some decent vehicle chases. It's also nice to see a vampire comedy where the hunter is actually the antagonist and the creatures of the night are the good guys; this leads to a nicely ironic resolution. While there's nothing here that's that memorable, it's all pleasant enough and easy to take. Leonard and Pollak are appealing in the leads. Directed by Jimmy Huston, who'd also done the 1981 slasher film "Final Exam". Six out of 10.