Quick Movie Review: Mel Brooks Edition

This isn't the first time I've dedicated an Quick Review on one specific theme, but I wanted to say something before jumping into this review of Mel Brooks movies. When I started my attempt of watching this iconic director's movies, it ended up being a good jumping off point for a new series of reviews you'll be seeing later that'll feature movies that "most people" have seen and most likely will criticize if you have not seen it.


Blazing Saddles (1974, USA) | Rating: 3/5
Going into this movie, I knew that the content would most likely not pass in our current times due to some of the racial jokes, but I was very opened minded. What I have seen from Mr. Brooks, I have enjoyed and Maja pointed out that this is her favorite Mel Brooks movie. I'm not big into westerns, but I love a good comedy and Brooks always delivers in that aspect. Watching this movie, I didn't quite receive the big laughs I was anticipating, but I definitely did have a good time with the content. The chemistry between our two main characters was perfect and I loved the reveal at the end.



Young Frankenstein (1974, USA) | Rating: 3.5/5
I've heard some fans claim that this is their favorite Mel Brooks movie and with Gene Wilder as the star, I knew I was in for a good time. I think I enjoyed this more than Blazing Saddles with its over the top humor and parody of the classic Frankenstein's Monster. Making it a black and white movie was also a wise choice to make it look like the classic film. I enjoyed how Brooks was able to balance his humor while also loosely following Frankenstein's story that most of know through various films and some through the book. If you're looking for a humorous movie with classic horror elements, then this is a great choice to liven up the room.



History of the World: Part I (1981, USA) | Rating: 4/5
I feel like this isn't as popular as the previous two movies above, but it is another selection that I have heard as a favorite among fans. Much like Blazing Saddles, there might be some jokes that couldn't be retold in today's setting, but I didn't find them offense at all. The movie mostly pokes fun of "historical" moments that shaped the world to what we know today...or at least what the world was in 1981. I enjoyed this one quite a bit and I gradually noticed how seemlessly Mel Brooks fits into his own films as an actor. It doesn't seem self serving or out of place; he just fits right in where necessary, whether it's the lead or a supporting role.



High Anxiety (1977, USA) | Rating: 2.5/5
How do you make a Mel Brooks movie better? I don't know, maybe trying parodying some classic Alfred Hitchcock movies. Yes, Mel Brooks takes some elements from Hitchcock and mixes it with his over the top humor. The main character played by Brooks is very...paranoid and so, he sees a specialist to help with his problem so he won't be diagnosed with "high anxiety". See where they got the name? Yeah, this might not be for everyone as it is, well, over the top and cheesy in places. I had a fun time watching this one, but it might not be one of Brooks's movies that I wil be returning to too often.



The Twelve Chairs (1970, USA) | Rating: 2.5/5
If you think his movies are too cheesy or over the top for you, this one might be for you. It still maintains Brooks's humor and hilarious characters throughout, but it doesn't go overboard like Blazing Saddles or High Anxiety. For me writing this after the fact, it's almost forgettable due to its tameness in comparison, but that doesn't make it a bad movie in the least. The story remains entertaining and the jokes still land. I can definitely say that this isn't one of my favorites, nonetheless I don't regret seeing this tamer side of Mr. Brooks and that his high energy shenanigans isn't the only thing in his wheelhouse of humor.



Silent Movie (1976, USA) | Rating: 3.5/5
Last, but not least...for now, is a silent film with only one word of audible dialogue. The funny thing about that is that it's spoken by a famous mime! Anyway, speaking or not speaking, there remains so much hilarity in this movie. The whole film pokes fun of the film industry, despite some of the jokes being a bit outdated, it's still relevant to certain aspects of the movie business. I found the choice to go the classic silent movie route very clever and there are interesting little jokes within that as well, which you can find through IMDb's trivia section such as the mouth movements and dialogue cards might not match up for comedic effect. Definitely check it out, especially if you're into the movie biz!


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