Robin Hood - Men in Tights (1993)

2.5 stars out of 4

The Bottom Line:

Though Cary Elwes is perfectly cast as a self-aware Robin Hood, too much of this film's humor seems pitched at the 6th graders that Mel Brooks began targeting with 1987's Spaceballs December 18, 2008

cheesy cornball

The Robin Hood legend with juvenile jokes. I actually did laugh a couple of times, but not nearly as much as I expected to. It seemed like they were making it up as they went. November 28, 2008

Straight, but merry

This is a good, but not great, comedy from Mel Brooks. Some of the pop culture references hit the mark, but some corny one-liners ruin moments. Visual gags are pointed out way too long, but the ation sequences are well-developed. Big pluses must go to the actors. Elwes, Yasbeck, Chappelle, Rees, DeLuise, and many others light up the screen. And a small role given to Brooks himself is also a treat. So watch this if you want good, (sometimes) clean, and wild fun. October 27, 2008

Good, but the jokes are a little bland.

I know i will catch some criticism for this review, but o well. the movie is funny, but utilizes many cheap jokes, which i find takes from the actual comedy. another one of the few faults i've seen with mel brooks is that some his jokes can be seen a mile away. almost as if he's trying to force comedy instead of letting it flow.

robin hood is very hansom, and is probably one of the funniest in the cast, while chappelle (achoo) is funny as well. the rest are mildly amusing.

the fight scenes are done in a silly way, which is good. i also liked the way the movie acknowledges that it is a movie. they break the 4th wall frequently, revel in shots including stage handlers, and even pull out the script at one point.

main point is do i think its worth buying? yes. but don't expect this to be anywhere near as funny as young doctor frankenstein.

October 12, 2008

Movies like this make me very, very merry...

A film like `Robin Hood - Men in Tights' is really nothing more than good clean fun, in the lines of Mel Brooks other spoof films. It's more successful than some (yes, I didn't like `Blazing Saddles') and less successful than others (it's no `Young Frankenstein'). The film pokes fun at, none other than, Robin Hood, and in particular at the 1991 Costner vehicle `Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves'.

The film is littered with comedic talent and jabs at movie after movie, but it never feels overstuffed, which is nice because that is a very easy problem to run into. Cary Elwes is hilarious as Robin Hood. I love his comedic work (`Princess Bride' anyone) and here he does a brilliant mockery of Kevin Costner's turn in the `Prince of Thieves' film ("Unlike some other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent!"). He is aiding immensely by a very talented cast of characters, from Roger Rees to Dave Chappelle to veteran comics like Isaac Hayes and Dom DeLuise (Patrick Stewart even graces the film with his presence).

The film pits Robin against the evil Sheriff of Rottingham and the laughs just spill out from there. Roger Rees is flawless as the Sheriff, creating a supremely hysterical villain we love to hate. Dave Chappelle provides some great comic relief (this was a pre-stardom Chappelle proving why he is the comedic genius he is today) and Tracy Ullman tears it up as Latrine, the witch who just wants a piece of man meat. Amy Yasbeck is beautiful if not a tad dull as Marian, but her beauty is what attracts Robin so I guess that's all she needed to be (and that chastity belt bit is hilarious).

I don't really know what all else to say aside from the fact that this is a rompfest. There is so much to enjoy here. Sure, it is not a perfect comedy, and it is not particularly smart (the gags are really all spoof related with nothing genuinely intelligent being mocked) but it works very well. Sometimes all you need is a good laugh, and this film provides them in spades (the singing and dancing bits are just the right touch of something extra to really set this film apart). Watch out for Dom DeLuise's wonderful prod at `The Godfather', sliding in a little bit of culture in this very funny spoof on everyone's favorite thief. September 26, 2008

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