First people have to read.
Spaceballs (1987).
- Thread starter EmmanuelZorg
- Start date
When I was six years old, I had no idea what that meant. When I watched again a couple years later, I finally got that joke, but I actually don't imagine many adults getting it sadly.
That's what I love about some of these older comedies... I can see them as a kid and appreciate the more physical aspects of the comedy, and then rewatch as an adult and catch and understand all the subtle bits of humor that only an adult can get. It makes a film rewatchable.
Joy
Joy
Spaceballs suffers because there's no heart in it. There was genuine affection for the genres being sent up in Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles and The Producers, and that informs the humor. Spaceballs is cynical through and through, and there's no love for the thing they're sending up, which means they miss the humorous insider touches that would have really made it work.
One can also argue that Mel Brooks was at his best with Wilder, and Wilderless Brooks is crasser and not as charmingly funny.
One can also argue that Mel Brooks was at his best with Wilder, and Wilderless Brooks is crasser and not as charmingly funny.
A
Amaris
Guest
That rumor's at least five years old, but I think once Anne died, his heart just wasn't in it anymore. I don't foresee another Spaceballs movie, let alone another movie by Brooks anytime soon. Maybe, but not likely.
J.
I know I am repeating what others have said, but...
We can talk about the "good old days", but I think Galaxy Quest is a much superior film and comedy to Spaceballs.
Spaceballs was the funniest movie of all time for me when I 1st saw it 20 years ago, but it just falls apart when re-watching it. Just a few great moments with lots of hard vacuum between them.
We can talk about the "good old days", but I think Galaxy Quest is a much superior film and comedy to Spaceballs.
Spaceballs was the funniest movie of all time for me when I 1st saw it 20 years ago, but it just falls apart when re-watching it. Just a few great moments with lots of hard vacuum between them.
Well part of the reason that Galaxy Quest holds up and Spaceballs hasn't is: that Galaxy Quest is about us, the fans; it's a loving little wink, nod, and poke in the ribs at fandom. We all know someone that is like that fans in Galaxy Quest, or we know someone that pointed at us as said "oh that's so you" . What is Spaceballs, a Star Wars parody...whoppiee.
Never really saw Galaxy Quest as being about the fans at all. I always saw it as poking fun at the ridiculous aspects of space opera's that we just accept off hat. As others have said, what makes Galaxy Quest stand out is the makers obviously have a genuine love for the genre, sure they are making jokes about sci-fi cliches, but its not in a malicious way, its more like "this is ridiculous, but great!".
Thats not to say that i dont love Spaceballs, i think its a fantastic film and one i often rewatch. But as much as i love the film, its definitely not Mel Brooks finest. I'd cast my vote for Young Frankenstein as well.
I think with Galaxy Quest, the jokes are a lot more subtle, and the filmmakers make the audience work to catch all the nods and nudges. With Spaceballs, it's all "Look at this! This is a joke! See? Get it? HAHAHA!"... in-your-face kinda stuff.
I like both movies, but yeah, Galaxy Quest is definitely better.
Joy
I like both movies, but yeah, Galaxy Quest is definitely better.
Joy
I always saw it as a little bit from Column A and a little from Column B.
Spaceballs is one of the few movies that can make me laugh just by thinking about it. "Come back you fat bearded bitch!" 
There was a very short lived (6 eps or so) cartoon series based on Spaceballs briefly mentioned on the first page. It wasn't promoted and did not go any further as far as I know. It did have Mel Brooks voicing his characters though. And yes, it did not have the same humor or memorablity that Spaceballs itself has. I saw all the episodes and still can't remember anything about it.
Similar threads
