THE BRIDE, in theaters Friday, March 6, starring Jessie Buckley as the titular character and Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s Monster feels as cobbled together at times as the Monster himself, but perhaps that’s what Maggie Gyllenhaal was going for in her latest directorial endeavor.

Borrowing from every imaginable film style: monster movie, romance, musical, western, detective noir, and modern action, THE BRIDE takes viewers on a wild ride of reinvigoration as Frankenstein’s Monster (“Frank”) pleads with a professor in the reanimation field played by Annette Bening. Frank’s obsession with love can be creepy at times, even bordering on the “me too” movement of going to whatever lengths possible to score the woman of his fantasy. After finding a suitable body to bring back to life that may or may not be possessed by the ghost of Frankenstein author Mary Shelley and a person formerly on the run from a mob boss, Frank and the professor successfully rescusitate THE BRIDE who goes by the name “Penelope.” The whole situation is like an homage to OVERBOARD where Goldie Hawn can’t remember who she is, so a creep takes advantage and crafts a new life for her… one that her mind constantly battles because it doesn’t “feel right”.

Jumping into the meat of the story, Frank is hellbent on forcing Penelope to love him like he’s seen so often reflected in his favorite films starring the fictional singer/dancer Ronnie Reed, played by Gyllenhaal’s brother Jake. Frank lost himself in Golden Age films because he’s always been alone and he finally sees light at the end of his dark tunnel in the form of Penelope, who he plans to make his bride. She resists his pursuit as best as the undead can, but ultimately grows closer after she and Frank dip out for a night on the town at a danceclub and he comes to her rescue from a group of nare-do-wells that try to take advantage of her on the dancefloor. One thing leads to another, and suddenly we’re in a Bonnie & Clyde situation where Frank and Penelope are wanted for murder – even though it was self-defense.

That introduces two new characters to the mix – the detectives. Played by Penelope Cruz and Peter Sarsgaard. Sarsgaard’s role is a feminist at heart but also uses the mysoginist nature of the 1950s to his advantage, relying on the smarts of Cruz’s character to help him find clues and get closer to the truth. She’s the brains, and he’s the “looks” according to the film.

As the adventure plays on, the film tries to convince us that people are deathly afraid of Frank’s looks when in reality, it’s still very much an attractive Christian Bale in that makeup… if anything, THE BRIDE’s makeup is more off-putting but no one seems to bat an eye around her. As they make their way from Chicago to New York on the run, you can imagine the hunted/hunter scenarios that playout throughout the film. The detectives and the Harvey Weinstein-like mob boss are on the hunt and keep ‘just missing’ them…. this plays on and on, tiring at times, but it’s not all drab.

There are some true bright moments in the film, especially during an electrifying dance number that was ultimately a deep reference to the film YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN that was just so absurd and nerdy, I hope you don’t miss it like most my audience did. I thoroughly enjoy a good film reference and there are a ton of them in THE BRIDE. Our screening was presented in IMAX which seemed to serve as more of a distraction to the film than anything else. There was no particular reason for it to exist in the large format, although I always appreciate seeing a movie on the biggest screen possible.

THE BRIDE is trying very hard to be many things and only manages to do a few of them well. If for no other reason, go if you’re a film buff and enjoy the references sprinkled throughout. It’s ultimately a love-letter to Hollywood and the struggles and strife that the glamourous life brings… a melting pot of ideas: some good, some bad, some downright evil. Is Hollywood greater than the sum of its parts? Perhaps that’s the parallel THE BRIDE is trying to spotlight.

See what you think and comment below if you plan on watching it!