Spaceballs (1987)
★★★½
This review may contain spoilers.
Spaceballs: The Letterboxd Review.
I LOVE THIS MOVIE SO MUCH, this is my favorite movie ever years later and I am still laughing and enjoying pretty much every joke in the film. it's nostalgia that I enjoy this thing as much as I do, I don't want to pretend that this is the greatest film I have ever seen most of my favorite movies are not great movies they are good movies but not the best movies but they are things that have impacted my life in a significant way and this is one of them, this is the movie that inspired me to make movies, the one that showed me what film was truly capable of and made me write scripts.
So thanks Mel Brooks for everything.
the writing is really where this stands out for me, maybe not in the story part but in the joke part like most Brooks films there is a joke every .5 seconds so if one joke doesn't land there isn't too much time until the next joke it's a pretty decent format to have especially considering a comedy like this, as I said the story is pretty basic and has been told over and over again but the story is a vehicle for the jokes and short sketches and really is only there to tie them together.
the acting is also a stand out everyone on this star-studded cast does a fantastic job, Rick Moranis kills it as Dark Helmet playing this essentially 12-year-old who isn't getting his way is amazing, Joan Riversis great in the role of Dot bringing life to a pretty robotic voice, there is care in her voice for Vespa John Candy as Barf is amazing, the subtle expressions that he does are great and sell the man dog that he is playing here, Bill Pullman does fantastic as Lone star selling this down on his luck man as he is just trying to make it day by day and even though he fights with people there is a clear care in his heart a warmth and pullman does a great job showing that subtly, Daphne Zungia is probably my faviarite character playing princess vespa who seems like she doesn't know what she is doing, seems like a damsel in distress but is actually one really bad ass princess, the scene where she shoots that gun is a true Holy Shit moment because up until then she had been playing dumb and now it's time for her to act.
something that stood out to me on this rewatch had to be the props and set design which is spectacular, not only does everything say Spaceballs: The ____ but also there are subtle crushed cans and signs and gizmos and gadgets that infest these environments, not only are the jokes in the acting but in the world, it is a very goofy world to exist within.
I want a Pizza The Hutt doll or that Yogurt Doll I want one of those so bad too ugh I just need Spacballs merch.
notes below
-------------------------
- "If you can read this you don't need glasses"
- I like that there are lulls in the music here, almost like the music is curious about when it will end as well.
- the tie and little boxer shorts on the Dark Helmets costume is amazing also it's a dick lol.
- Sanders's face when he is showing him Schwartz's true power
- the fact that they all cover their balls is god damn amazing.
- I do wish the cinematography was a bit more out there, it's good and serviceable for the story but I wish it was a little more wild with it in my mind.
- dude the costume for Pizza the Hutt goes so hard omg, I can't imagine how hot it is under that thing.
- the set design and make-up and hair styling in this film are really good.
- this movie is just a collection of jokes and I love it.
- I like how living in his RV looks.
- spaceball 1 kind of looks like a shark.
- the fact that they got Michael Winslow to do the radar guy is goddamn gold.
- the camera hitting him is so great but following that with them all turning back around to get back to work is great as well.
- "hot air"
- the prop team must have had a field day with this movie.
- the sound effects on the coffee going through the mask are nice.
- this scene where they watch the movie inside the movie was a game changer for little xavier.
- I like the exchange of going back to then it's some very complicated dialogue hats off to the actors.
- watching this film is amazing because I know what's coming and I am already laughing about it cause I know what's about to happen.
- "The same thing I am going to do to you, big boy"
- "I didn't see you playing with your dolls again" It's so amazing I love that it implies he has played with them multiple times and he has been caught each time.
- I like the music in the shootout scene.
- I really feel like every time they break the fourth wall it is subverting your expectations, like you do expect it to be them when they do the jump but it isn't I do find that clever, maybe I am just nostalgic who knows?
- I also like the concept that their ship is only this big because it is also a giant maid with a vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner brings it to a close.
- Rick Morris is so good in this role.
- I like the animation on the Schwartz
- because good is dumb. hardest line ever.
- "Like My Raincoat" is the most underrated line from this movie.
- also the song that says how badass the Spaceballs are only for it to play while they are being defeated is so good.
- NOOO PIZZA THE HUT!!! HES GONE.
