Robin Hood: Men In Tights - movie review

Robin Hood: Men In Tights

Plot: A spoof of Robin Hood in general and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) in particular.
Cast: Cary Elwes, Richard Lewis, Roger Rees
Director: Mel Brooks
Rating: PG
Runtime: 1hr 44 mins
Release Date: Wednesday 28th July 1993

Mel Brooks. An unequivocal comedic tour de force. The mastermind behind countless revolutionary comedies such as; Spaceballs, Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles. Unfortunately, I have only seen the one (Blazing Saddles). That is, until now. However, I watched one of his lesser known films; a spoof of Robin Hood. Whilst it may not have matched the standards of Blazing Saddles, the enjoyment I had was undeniable.

Starring as Robin Hood in this instance is Cary Elwes. After appearing in The Princess Bride in 1987, Elwes fits back into the mediaeval and swashbuckling role very well and was my favourite character from the film. He delivers the comedy with panache and fits effectively in with Brooks' madcap style of comedy. As for a leading man, I always thought Elwes had the screen presence to lead big and popular films and Robin Hood: Men In Tights provides even more evidence of this. The dashing nature he gives Robin is exactly what you'd expect from the heroic character but his depiction always has the tongue-in-cheek quality that shines in a Mel Brooks film. But where is Elwes now? He played iconic characters such as Westley, Robin Hood and Dr. Lawrence Gordon in the Saw franchise but he seems to have disappeared from the limelight. It would be nice to see him appear in a recognisable film so he stays within the public recognition. Alongside Robin amongst his merry men is Eric Allan Kramer as Little John. He was OK and I understand that some characters were meant to give purposefully bad performances for a satirical nature but Kramer's attempt at a British accent just felt unnecessary. Actors including Richard Lewis as Prince John spoke in their natural accent so it may have been best for Kramer to follow suit rather than use a Scottish mixed with Australian accent. Popular comedian Dave Chappelle make a supporting appearance as Ahchoo. Yes that really is his name. His comedy stylings and talent make for a fun blend and wit to what could have been a silly moment. As the antagonist of the feature is Richard Lewis delivering a wise cracking representation of the phony King of England himself, Prince John. As the Sheriff Of 'Rottingham' is Roger Rees who gives a spot on parody of Alan Rickman's interpretation of the Sheriff from Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves. You should also keep your eye out for surprise cameos, especially for King Richard.

In Blazing Saddles, what surprised me was the social commentary that Brooks provided. In this however, it is just a full on spoof. The story follows in the same progression that Robin Hood films have in the past, so it doesn't add anything new to the formula. It does begin to wear a little thin after a while which does come at a cost in regards to the jokes. When the story reaches its third act, the jokes don't hit as hard as before and some even fall flat. The first two acts though, are a refreshing depiction of the Robin Hood tale due to enigmatic writing by Brooks, Evan Chandler and J.D. Shapiro. Some may see it as stupid whilst others will recognise the talent on show. The runtime isn't too much of problem either. The film moves at a pace to make it consistently engaging as we do not have to wait long for the next joke to unravel. Considering that pacing was one of my only issues with Blazing Saddles, it's a pleasure to see Brooks improving from his flaws.

A parody is defined as an imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect. Brooks excels in this format especially with spoofing Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves. Whether it be the classic yet cheesy soundtrack or Kevin Costner's inability to even attempt a British accent, Brooks always seems to find a way to fire shots at the 1991 release. Brooks' comedy always is very specific and has little nuances that some will miss on the first viewing. For example, until they directly reference it, you may not notice the constant changing of position of Prince John's mole. It is those small yet significant inclusions that seem to reward the audience for their attention. The film also has a brilliant and unique way to break the fourth wall. At points, you may see the lighting rig or clearly fake sets to reinforce the farcical essence or even a direct reference to current media and entertainment news. My favourite of these implementations was the use of the camera with it incidentally crashing through a window or the priest bumping his head into it. They all delivered well deserved  laughs. However, a large complaint for me, was that I never found any moment that had me laughing in hysterics like I was during Blazing Saddles.

What may not be Mel Brooks' crowning glory, this is by far, a more than adequate entry into his filmography. It mixes the adventurous tone of all Robin Hood films with the bizarre and mental humour that Brooks is known for. There are even musical numbers so if you had always wanted to see Maid Marion singing about her chastity belt, then Robin Hood: Men In Tights may be the film you have been looking for.

My Verdict: 7/10

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