Review : "Spaceballs" (1987) - movie by Mel Brooks

Mel Brooks is a one of a kind director. Even if his output has been varying considerably in quality, he manages to now and again hit the jackpot with his trademark screwball humor. There are four big ones in my Brooks catalog; "Springtime for Hitler", "Young Frankenstein", "Blazing Saddles" and "Spaceballs". This late, great space parody takes on primarily Star Wars, but also reference Alien and Star Trek (?).

There is not really a plot here except to say that it in a light way follows the first Star Wars movie. It is the jokes and the gags that is the goal here. The most notable performance is by Rick Moranis as Lord Helmet (inspired by that asthmatic black lord of Star Wars), except that his helmet is a giant nuisance to his ability to interact with the world ... yes even to breathe, hence the impaired breathing :-)

Most of the scenes with Lord Helmet are cult classics by now, for instance the jump to "ludicrous speed", the Mr. Rental time relativity dialogue, Lord Helmet playing with his dolls and Lord Helmet being surrounded by assholes etc. These are brilliant gags and not least carried so well by sorely missed Rick Moranis, a true comedy talent.

The rest of the gags are at times quite funny, like the merchandising comment of "Spaceballs: The Flamethrower", a nudge at George Lucas for blocking Brooks ability to make "toys" that would be too similar to those of Star Wars. Pizza the Hut (reference to Jabba the Hut) a giant pile of pizza not unlike the bloated pile of Jabba. But a lot of the sidelines of Lone Starr (Han Solo), Barf and the droid and Leia parts does not stand up that well after 30 years. It is a typical trait of Mel Brooks that the quality of the jokes and gags ranges from quite genius to the embarrassing. It is just what you have to deal with I guess, in order to get those brilliant ones.

When it comes to comparing this one to the pantheon of comedies, even the previous ones of Brooks, this is not among the best the field has to offer and it is possibly the weakest of the four greatest Brooks. But I am personally so fond of the Lord Helmet gags that those alone raises it up to the classics, well aware that if it was not for those parts, the whole movie would be forgettable. But in comedy you have to settle with the few gems you get and treasure them.

7/10