Pulling off a good parody can be quite difficult. Mel Brooks has done it a few times, but he’s also made some lesser parody films that don’t quite hold up. So where did his sendup of the Robin Hood myths end up? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Robin Hood series with Brooks’ 1993 film Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
We talk about parody films and look at why a parody film of the Robin Hood films, particularly Prince of Thieves from two years earlier, seemed like a good idea at the time. We also debate how well it worked – just because there are laughs, does that mean it’s a success? We chat about several cast members like Richard Lewis, Dave Chappelle, Amy Yasbeck, Roger Rees, and Tracey Ullman, and what they bring to the table, but most of our praise lies with Cary Elwes and the brilliant job he does at playing a spot-on perfect Robin Hood while also jumping in wholeheartedly to the Brooks comedy pool. We ponder how timeless a film like this can be. And we praise Brooks for some catchy tunes.
It’s a fun film that is perhaps rightfully called a ‘lesser Brooks film,’ but entertaining enough. Tune in to this week’s show to check it out! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.
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