Robin Hood: Men In Tights (1993)

A spoof of the Robin Hood legend, this Mel Brooks movie takes the usual scattershot approach, with a lot of specific digs at the big-budget, Kevin Costner-starring Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.

Cary Elwes takes on the title role, and he's excellent, not least because "unlike some other Robin Hoods", he can speak with an English accent. He starts to cause trouble for Prince John (Roger Rees) and the Sheriff of Rottingham (Richard Lewis) while also winning the heart of the lovely Marian (Amy Yasbeck). Lending Robin some support are a blind manservant named Blinkin (Mark Blankfield), a young man named Ahchoo (Dave Chappelle), Little John (Eric Allan Kramer) and Will Scarlet O'Hara (Matthew Porretta), all willing to become the titular men in tights. Tension rises, fights are fought and everything builds up to a climactic battle in which Robin Hood hopes to right a lot of wrongs.

It may be unfair to compare the later work of Mel Brooks to his earlier successes, but it's inevitable whenever he releases another parody, thanks to Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein remaining perfect examples of the format. This film is not as good as those superb titles, but it's goofy and endearing enough to please fans of the director's style.

The cast is great. Elwes is very funny in the leading role, keeping a straight face while involved in some amusingly ridiculous exchanges. Richard Lewis and Roger Rees do more obvious clowning around, but they have fun with their roles, a fun that's infectious thanks to the enthusiasm of everyone involved. Mark Blankfield is okay, used for a number of obvious gags, while Dave Chappelle is his usual energetic self. Amy Yasbeck makes for a fine Marian and Megan Cavanagh is the maid/nurse trying to keep the lady pure.

Written by Brooks, Evan Chandler and J. D. Shapiro, the script includes some fun musical moments, plenty anachronisms included for comedic effect, a fun, small role for Tracey Ullman (who lusts after the Sheriff of Rottingham) and a wonderful moment that allows Robert Ridgely to reprise his role from Blazing Saddles. Dom DeLuise, Dick Van Patten, Isaac Hayes and Patrick Stewart all join the madness.

This may be a lesser Brooks movie, but it will still make you laugh on a number of occasions. Which is more than can be said about some other spoof/parody films from the past two decades (*cough* Friedberg/Seltzer *cough*).

6/10

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Robin-Hood-Men-Tights-DVD/dp/B00004U0MG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366762288&sr=8-1&keywords=robin+hood+men+in+tights

House II: The Second Story (1987)

You see what they did there? Get the pun? If you're already groaning at the title of this movie then you're not going to enjoy the content. It's daft. The horror elements of the first movie have been pushed aside for more comedy and a strange fantasy adventure element that places the film between the likes of Labyrinth and the weaker Hammer movies that would use any excuse to send a hero into another world full of danger. To be kind, we can assume that the film is a homage to those older movies. It's just not a very good one (though I still hold on to the fond memories I have of the thing from when I was about 13 years old).

Much like the first film, events take place in a house. There ends all onscreen connection. This isn't even the same house, though some stock footage here and there tries to make it seem like it is. Arye Gross plays Jesse, a young man who finally moves back to the empty family home and finds that it's not actually as empty as everyone thought. So he and his friend (played by Jonathan Stark) decide to dig up the final resting place of his gramps and disturb the old man (played by Royal Dano), who proceeds to tell them all about the crystal skull he has guarded for many years and how it must stay safe in the house. Of course, next thing you know a load of random villains are trying to steal the crystal skull. With prehistoric creatures, a bunch of dangerous Aztecs, a handyman who is also an adventurer (John Ratzenberger, providing another link after the appearance of George Wendt in the first movie) and many decidedly 1980s moments, House II: The Second Story is still a fun watch but it's far from a great movie.

Ethan Wiley moves up from his writing position on the first film to both write and direct this outing and I suppose he does okay. The direction certainly seems pretty competent, even if the main premise is a bit ridiculous and far-fetched. It's just strange to think who he could have been aiming for when he wrote the thing. Horror fans will find it too light on any actual horror whereas fantasy adventure fans will almost certainly prefer numerous other movies with more spectacle onscreen.

The cast all seem to enjoy themselves, at least. Arye Gross and Jonathan Stark work together well, Royal Dano is very good, John Ratzenberger is a lot of fun, Dean Cleverdon is good when he pops up briefly as the real baddie of the piece and then we have support from Bill Maher, Lar Park Lincoln, Amy Yasbeck, Jayne Modean and other shiny happy people.

You might enjoy this film but if, like me, you have fond memories from seeing it when you were a lot younger then prepare for disappointment to sink in as you realise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . it's actually not half as good as you remember it being.

5/10.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/House-Collection-the-DVD/dp/B0002IAQUO/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1330162344&sr=8-6