Altering my rating points up two notches years after hitting the middle of those ten white stars, it can be attributed to the number of laughs increasing as a result of watching the first three films in the "Star Wars" films. Certainly not all the intended gags land as expected, but in parodying not only the saga of the Jedi's but other space based Sci fi movies TV shows, three quarters of the gags results in snicker or giggle of some kind. Not every character is accurately defined by their "Star Wars" character, particularly the spoiled Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) who is nothing like the strong willed but no nonsense Princess Leia. Bill Pullman helps the producer save money by playing a combination of both Luke skywalker and Hans Solo, and is perfectly adept in his role. I didn't care for Zuniga who overemotes while everyone else plays their roles only slightly tongue-in-cheek but seriously. Zuniga seems to be holding in a laugh, and that is unfortunately distracting.
Being a Mel Brooks movie, it has to feature Brooks and he plays two roles, including a parody of Yoda. John Candy gets a few giggles as the Chewbacca takeoff, but it's Joan Rivers who gets genuine laughs spoofing C3PO. After a while, I forgot it was someone else under the metal costume. Rick Moranis gets laughs as the Darth Vader ripoff, simply by his height and his Napoleon complex attitude. Smaller roles (Dick Van Patten as the king, John Hurt hysterically spoofing his "Alien" character's demise, George Wyner as a parody of Peter Cushing) are good too. The inside Hollywood jokes (spoofing the home video industry and product tie-ins) won't appeal to everyone, being a bit dated, but those who love the "Star Wars" films will be very amused. Brooks utilizes his typical depreciating humor, with the Yogurt intro definitely a "Wizard Oz" reference. So with laughs up for my first viewing in years, I'm able to write a better review than had I watched it without "Star Wars" tie-in.
Being a Mel Brooks movie, it has to feature Brooks and he plays two roles, including a parody of Yoda. John Candy gets a few giggles as the Chewbacca takeoff, but it's Joan Rivers who gets genuine laughs spoofing C3PO. After a while, I forgot it was someone else under the metal costume. Rick Moranis gets laughs as the Darth Vader ripoff, simply by his height and his Napoleon complex attitude. Smaller roles (Dick Van Patten as the king, John Hurt hysterically spoofing his "Alien" character's demise, George Wyner as a parody of Peter Cushing) are good too. The inside Hollywood jokes (spoofing the home video industry and product tie-ins) won't appeal to everyone, being a bit dated, but those who love the "Star Wars" films will be very amused. Brooks utilizes his typical depreciating humor, with the Yogurt intro definitely a "Wizard Oz" reference. So with laughs up for my first viewing in years, I'm able to write a better review than had I watched it without "Star Wars" tie-in.