Spaceballs

Directors: Mel Brooks
Release Date: 24 June 1987

 

Cast:
President Skroob / Yogurt: Mel Brooks
Barf: John Candy
Dark Helmet: Rick Moranis
Lone Starr: Bill Pullman
Princess Vespa: Daphne Zuniga
King Roland: Dick Van Patten
Colonel Sandurz: George Wyner
Dot Matrix (voice): Joan Rivers
Radar Technician: Michael Winslow

 

Mel Brooks has been a King of Comedy in Hollywood for so long (High Anxiety, Blazing Saddles) that one forgets younger viewers may not know him. His talents are on display in this hilarious send-up of the Star Wars and Star Trek films. George Lucas himself read and approved of the script – he had long been a fan of Brooks’ work and was pleased his own creations were getting the Brooks treatment.

The film stars some heavy hitters of comedy, including Second City veterans John Candy and Rick Moranis, as well as Dick Van Patten and Joan Rivers. The cast are solid and the writing is – as you would expect – total madness. The plot is a loose take-off of the original Star Wars movie and offers a different take with the shtick that Brooks is famous for.

The thing that stands out with Brooks’ movies is the pace, he directed this film (as he does for most of his films) and he likes to keep the plot moving and the jokes coming rapid fire. The writing is solid and there are great visual gags with many winks to the audience (particularly that part of the audience that is steeped in sci-fi lore). Keep your eyes and ears on alert for many of the smaller gags, including one meta-reference from the film Aliens. The special effects are funny as well as is the Borscht Belt humour.

Over the years this film has grown into a cult phenomenon, it has a devoted fan base that enjoy the nuttiness.

The film is great for the whole family (it was rated PG), none of the jokes are too risqué but they are geared to adults so you don’t need to have kids to enjoy this film.

 

 

Quotes:

[King Roland has given in to Dark Helmet's threats, and is telling him the combination to the "air shield"]
Dark Helmet: So the combination is… one, two, three, four, five? That’s the stupidest combination I’ve ever heard in my life! The kind of thing an idiot would have on his luggage!

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Princess Vespa: I am Princess Vespa, daughter of Roland, King of the Druids.
Lone Starr: Oh great. That’s all we needed. A Druish princess.
Barf: Funny, she doesn’t look Druish.

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Barf: I’m a mog: half man, half dog. I’m my own best friend!

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Barf: I know we need the money, but…
Lone Starr: Listen! We’re not just doing this for money!
Barf: [Barf looks at him, raises his ears]
Lone Starr: We’re doing it for a SHIT LOAD of money!

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[Skroob, Helmet, and Sanders reach the cancellation button]
Dark Helmet: Out of order? FUCK! Even in the future, nothing works!

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Dark Helmet: Say goodbye to your two best friends, and I don’t mean your pals in the Winnebago.

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Dark Helmet: So, Lone Star, now you see that evil will always triumph because good is dumb.

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Dark Helmet: Before you die there is something you should know about us, Lone Star.
Lone Starr: What?
Dark Helmet: I am your father’s brother’s nephew’s cousin’s former roommate.
Lone Starr: What’s that make us?
Dark Helmet: Absolutely nothing! Which is what you are about to become.

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Colonel Sandurz: It’s Mega Maid. She’s gone from suck to blow.

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Pizza the Hutt: Well, if it isn’t Lone Star. And his sidekick, Puke.
Barf: That’s Barf.
Pizza the Hutt: Barf… Puke… *Whatever!*

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Yogurt: And may the Schwartz be with youuuyoyoy – oh what a world, what a world!

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Colonel Sandurz: Are we being too literal?
Dark Helmet: No you fool, we’re following orders. We were told to comb the desert so we’re combing it.

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Dark Helmet: What’s the matter, Colonel Sandurz? CHICKEN?

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Dark Helmet: You have the ring, and I see your Schwartz is as big as mine. Let’s see how well you handle it.

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Dark Helmet: So, Lone Starr. Yogurt has taught you well. If there’s one thing I despise, it is a fair fight. But if I must, then I must. May the best man win. Put ‘er there.
[Reaches out to shake Lone Starr's hand and instead takes his Schwartz ring]
Dark Helmet: The Ring! I can’t believe you fell for the oldest trick in the book! What a goof! What’s with you man? Come on! You know what? Here let me give it back to you.
[throws it down the grate]
Dark Helmet: Oh, look, you fell for that too! I can’t believe it, man!

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If you like this Movie, you'll also like:

1. Star Trek (2009)
2. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
3. Mr. Brooks
4. Dark City Director’s Cut
5. Stephen King’s The Mist