This was how I celebrated the 100th birthday of Mel Brooks. Around these parts an explanation should not be required why me and most everyone else consider him a legend. Sure, only half of his directorial efforts have been reviewed here so I could have done something not discussed by me before. However, Flashback Cinema (who have provided retro movies to smaller non-national chains for years) played this yesterday & it felt only fitting to pay tribute this way... by viewing a movie I've loved since childhood & reviewed on Letterboxd once before, many years ago.
Yes, once the Internet entered my life in the late 90's I realized many don't care for the film-their opinion ranging from “annoyance” to downright “hatred.” It's not hard to see why—admittedly the movie is quite silly in spoofing sci-fi, but mainly Star Wars. Well, Star Wars and Star Trek were both viewed by me as a kid, and I was a kid in the 80's & 90's... perhaps it shouldn't be a shocker that the movie would be appealing, nevermind its faults or how it isn't transgressive like Blazing Saddles or is seen as hysterical by more people like a Young Frankenstein or The Producers.
Personally, I'd like to think it's not just nostalgia which explains my high rating, although that can be argued. Regardless, even if the movie hasn't been watched by me in ages (and note that not everything I revisit is mentioned on Letterboxd by any means), I am still greatly entertained by the parody of Star Wars characters, the quality cast, the puns, the wordplay, the sight gags, the dialogue-much of it still tickles me pink now-the 4th wall breaks, and how they poke fun at Star Wars while not being malicious. No wonder George Lucas was a big fan of this flick.
In my 45 years on this planet, Spaceballs is one of the films watched the most by me-there was more than a few childhood viewings. The film drew a decent-sized crowd at my screening; I was amused that beforehand, the trailers were for kids entertainment, due to the PG rating Spaceballs has... ignoring that this is the 80's version of PG, meaning there's an F-bomb and a few vulgar phrases, especially “I bet she gives great helmet!”
The sequel coming out 40 years after this—I am quite cautious how that will turn out. I'd appreciate a score like John Morris which successfully aped the John William sound and nice practical sets/effects like we got here-aided by ILM. This probably won't be the cast but I'll be crestfallen if the humor is modern and/or millennial; look at my review of the new Masters of the Universe to learn the strong degree which that is considered a repellent. I'm glad the main cast has returned & it will be great to see Rick Moranis again. Leaving Hollywood to raise his children after his wife died of cancer is tragic although of course the right thing to do. No matter how Spaceballs: The New One turns out, I'll always love the original.
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