Richard Propes' Review B+

This film has not aged as well as I thought it would in my life. It's hard to believe, though, that it's been over 20 years since its release. I remember seeing it twice in the theatre, and renting it about once a year. Seldom has a film made me laugh so nonstop and so loudly. Spoofing the "Airport" movies, this film is filled with so many one-liners, short gags, sight gags and facial expressions that it's nearly impossible to get everything with one viewing. The cast is nearly perfect...starting with Robert Hays and Julie Haggerty. I don't think either performer has ever done anything comparable...of course, Haggerty has most fallen into the pattern of trying to find another film like this one.

Dear Julie, "Freddy Got Fingered" was not a good career move. While it took many of the same chances, it's almost a black and white example of the right way and wrong way to make a funny, improvisational and "out there" movie. This film got it right. Of course, much of that credit goes to its writers and directors, Jim Abrahams and David Zucker. One wrong cast move, and this film could have been a disaster.

Remember the day when Leslie Nielsen was funny? Yeah, I know it's hard to remember that far back. This film is a solid example of how funny he can be. Then there are appearances by Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Peter Graves, Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges, Barbara Billingsley and many other cameos. This film has such a great script that the potential for "favorite quotes" is remarkably high. This film is funny, really funny...If you are one of the unfortunate few who haven't seen this film you simply must rent it.

© Written by Richard Propes

How We Rated This Film TC Candler - A Richard Propes - B+ Jacob Hall - A-

TC Candler's Comment

This film rates as high as any comedy I have ever laughed hysterically through.  I still quote the film incessantly to this day... it never gets old.  I have breezed through this film more than a dozen times in my life and I am sure there will be a dozen more.  One of the best comedies ever!  "Joey... Have you ever seen a grown man naked?"

Jacob Hall's Comment

Written and directed by Jim Abrahams and David Zucker, "Airplane!" is a spoof of just about every disaster movie ever made up to this time. The "plot" is about a plane where everyone comes down with food poisoning, even the pilots, and a former pilot/basket case must pilot the plane and save the lives of the people on board. The plot only exists to string gags on, though, and while this is usually a bad thing, here is comes off as Saturday Night Live on acid: it's bizarre, twisted trip filled with purposely included cliche's, arguing PA voices, inflatable pilots, a lesson in speaking jive and oh-so very much more. Not every gag is a hit, but there are so many gags and so many do hit, that the ratio is barely noticeable.

Not everyone will enjoy "Airplane!" It is about as unintelligent as movies get, and even I, a big fan, admit that it is often rather overwhelming. But the pure zaniness, the sheer insanity of the entire film works for me. This is not fine cinema in the usual sense.