Spaceballs

Spaceballs

So now, some movies are such a classic that you are left wondering how they would sit with new audiences. For example Spaceballs, Mel brooks’s science fiction comedy from the 80s. Its pretty much common knowledge that people who are watching the movie for the first time will bear no resemblance to this particular decade. I’ve been eager to cover it for the Retro Review.

Honestly, never once thought Spaceballs was a favorite Mel Brooks movies of mine. Skywalker won’t be able to take him down. Unfortunately, there’s nothing great about Spaceballs. Brooks made incredible films. Blazing Saddles, young Frankenstein. And silent movie.

However, one cannot ignore the fact that “Spaceballs” could be appreciated by a certain audience those that are nostalgic about the film or even the entire decade. There are several genuinely funny gags, and they do not fail to take a shot at almost every science fiction film. “Alien”, “Planet of the Apes”, “Star Trek,” and the big target of the movie ‘Brooks’ is clearly “Star Wars”.

The opening crawl (a moment reproduced in countless other sci-fi movies, mostly A Star Wars film), tells it all: this is a Mel Brooks movie and he is in piranha mode. The story goes something that goes: Planet Spaceball is short of fresh air, so President Skroob (Brooks’ character) comes up with the plan of abducting Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) from the neighboring planet Druidia. He will spare her life only if her father King Roland (Dick van Patten, cast hilariously) gives him the air caps of King Roland’s planet.

To implement his malicious plot, Skroob summons the diabolical and utterly ridiculous Dark Helmet. This antagonist gets one of the most ridiculous portrayals possible, since director Brooks made the casting choice of Rick Moranis. Just when everything seems to be going smoothly, in comes Bill Pullman, the hired guns and scoundrel of the galaxy known as Lone Star, together with his best friend and furred partner Barf, played by John Candy. They intend to save the princess and stop the destruction of Druidia.

While there are many 80s movies that I enjoy, I must say that I am still not a fan of ‘Spaceballs’, a film that I think hasn’t aged well since its release. It’s obvious that the effects are relatively primitive by today’s standards, but that is to be expected and easily forgiven. In fact, one could contend that the dated graphics are what makes the game’s appeal stronger.

However, more often than not, it is the comedy that comes off as painfully outdated (Will the younger generation even know who Michael Winslow or the Doublemint Twins are?). There are moments, however, when Brooks is rather sloppy and relies excessively on childish humor of low quality and replete with crude puns.

The comedy may have a variable quality, but there are still moments where the sheer silliness is quite infectious. I still crack up over Pizza the Hutt, the wise and pointy-eared Yogurt and Dark Helmet’s collectibles of oversized head pieces. There are other hilarious gags that disregard the fourth wall by ridiculing a particular aspect of filmmaking, marketing, or the trends of the big brand.

“Spaceballs” was first released in theaters during 1987, the 10 year anniversary of the initial Star Wars. With time it has gathered quite a number of devoted followers, despite the film being very underrated and surely not comprising of Mel Brooks in his best form. For me the nostalgia is all too real, even after all these years. Simultaneously I do accept that it is difficult to view the movie from the perspective I had more than 30 years back.

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