Review of Spaceballs (1987) by Jay R — 23 Jan 2012

This is definitely one of the greatest spoofs of all time. Every reference had me laughing, the performances are perfection in cliches and the overall winking at the camera technique is wonderful. Spaceballs is spoof perfection providing great laughs, hilarious performances and a revolution in spoof movies.

I loved every minute of this movie, from the chuckle inducing overlong beginning, to the priest who is performing the wedding ceremonies, I had a lot of fun with this movie. You don't see this movie to take anything seriously and Brooks is well aware of that.

He attacks the screen with literal takings ("jam" the array) and inspired stupidity. Bill Pullman plays the straight man role wonderfully as if having a half human have dog, made funny by the late John Candy, is perfectly normal.

Rick Moranis and Mel Brooks himself also succeed as the gut busting, dumb villains. Not only does this movie succeed by spoofing Star Wars, but also by all general sci-fi stereotypes, from beaming, to passcodes, to American society (nose job scene killed me).

It is perfectly proud of its insanity and it attacks multiple issues. Dot Matrix, voiced hilariously by Joan Rivers and Daphne Zuinga have some great one liners at an "updated" C-3PO and a ditzy Princess Vespa.

The other thing that really makes this movie wonderful, is the fact that it knows its a movie. Numerous times the characters reference the audience and speak at us. Or something will do wrong on the set and you can plainly see what is happening.

Even the characters mention that they are in a movie at some points. This self aware technique, combined with the great spoof material and inspired performances work wonders. Spaceballs is a rarity in these times, a spoof movie that makes you laugh consistently and effectively using both wits and smarts.

Thumbs up!