It felt like an extended SNL skit. The jokes were ok. The cast has many of your favorite actors, but the jokes were not particularly funny. I do appreciate the revival since the original movie ended on a cliffhanger. I am glad that Mel Brooks was still around to oversee the project. They should have gotten the team that writes jokes for Ryan Reynolds involved to write the material as they are able to weave in modernity with humor. The jokes that were included in this episode were too on the nose to be funny. Also the humor of the 80's doesn't translate well to 2023. I am hoping the later episodes will funnier. It's is worth a watch even if just for the nostalgia.
9 Reviews
So disappointed
gregory-d-smith12 March 2023
I absolutely loved History Of The World Part 1. So I was stoked to see that "Part 2" was being made. So disappointing to find that in the entire first episode, there were 2 times when I chuckled at the jokes.
I will say that it's fantastic that so many stars signed up for this. Johnny Knoxville was mildly amusing as Rasputin. Of course Danny DeVito was awesome as Czar Nicholas.
I was happy to see that Mel Brooks had a throwback from the original with Hitler On Ice. A shame it wasn't funny in the slightest.
I'll finish watching the first season, but I don't hold high hopes for the rest of the episode.
I will say that it's fantastic that so many stars signed up for this. Johnny Knoxville was mildly amusing as Rasputin. Of course Danny DeVito was awesome as Czar Nicholas.
I was happy to see that Mel Brooks had a throwback from the original with Hitler On Ice. A shame it wasn't funny in the slightest.
I'll finish watching the first season, but I don't hold high hopes for the rest of the episode.
'80s comedy gold!
gpeele87 March 2023
If you grew up in the '80s and have a shred of appreciation for Mel Brook's comedy style you will love this, after all I have been waiting around 40 years for this and it doesn't disappoint! Just realize it's not a history class, nor is it for the politically touchy on either side of the fence, you know who you are!
This is a show that breaks the rules and will have you on the floor laughing if you have a sense of humor and don't take things too seriously (and are up on your history and pop culture, I know, really tough ask). I mean the Hitler glitterstache durring the Hitler on Ice, and the Jackrasp skit had me in stitches on the floor, complete with J. Knoxville and Jason Acuña (aka Wee Man)! Definitely took comedy to the next level with this one, and I'm sure making up for lost time!
It was hard to say a single skit took a wrong step on this one, from the Romonov twitter skit to U. S. Grant just trying to catch a buzz by going on a "secret mission" to West Virginia thanks to Lincoln, it was all just brilliant!
This is a show that breaks the rules and will have you on the floor laughing if you have a sense of humor and don't take things too seriously (and are up on your history and pop culture, I know, really tough ask). I mean the Hitler glitterstache durring the Hitler on Ice, and the Jackrasp skit had me in stitches on the floor, complete with J. Knoxville and Jason Acuña (aka Wee Man)! Definitely took comedy to the next level with this one, and I'm sure making up for lost time!
It was hard to say a single skit took a wrong step on this one, from the Romonov twitter skit to U. S. Grant just trying to catch a buzz by going on a "secret mission" to West Virginia thanks to Lincoln, it was all just brilliant!
Waited years to be disappointed
yaornw6 March 2023
The difference between this in the original is one particularly important thing. The original was hilarious. This is barely funny. I have to see when I heard this is happening. I thought it was a joke. And there's a lotta good talent involved for sure but I just felt like everything was played so community theater. It just didn't work for me. Very disappointing sequel and the length didn't help at all. Whose idea was it to make a miniseries based on a two hour movie? I should've kept it more short and concise so only the Beth stuff was included. I think that would've helped a lot. Instead they let a lot of crap stay in that should've been edited out. Not recommended.
Smart funny and on it.
nbjnqxtgp12 March 2023
I don't know who the sourpusses are that are rating this so low, but this is pure genius. The cast is a who's who of contemporary comedy stars, the writing is smart, the gags are spot-on and plentiful. It's just so good.
The Kama Souptra was particularly hilarious but really there isn't a bad scene in the bunch.
This is full of inside jokes and the pacing is great. If you never saw an episode of Jackass or Curb your enthusiasm, I guess you might miss some jokes (but if you haven't seen either, you're probably not a reliable person to gauge what's funny and what's not anyway) but this is one of the funniest and smartest things I've ever watched.
The Kama Souptra was particularly hilarious but really there isn't a bad scene in the bunch.
This is full of inside jokes and the pacing is great. If you never saw an episode of Jackass or Curb your enthusiasm, I guess you might miss some jokes (but if you haven't seen either, you're probably not a reliable person to gauge what's funny and what's not anyway) but this is one of the funniest and smartest things I've ever watched.
Non-stop curse and smut feast
ffffxh8 March 2023
I can't believe Mel Brooks put his name on this. What happened to Mel? Did he not read the script or watch this at all?
Well, what he have here is a very bad sequel to a super beloved comedy movie. Unfortunately, it does not deliver much on the comedy or humor, but, it delivers smut of cursing by the truck load.
Certainly not a decent comedy for the family. I really wouldn't call it a comedy for anyone decent to be honest.
Oh well, Mel Brooks sure dropped the ball... BIG TIME!
This is nowhere near the level of his previous works like Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs, History of the World part I, etc. I predict this show won't last long and will quickly be forgotten. Another great franchise destroyed.
Well, what he have here is a very bad sequel to a super beloved comedy movie. Unfortunately, it does not deliver much on the comedy or humor, but, it delivers smut of cursing by the truck load.
Certainly not a decent comedy for the family. I really wouldn't call it a comedy for anyone decent to be honest.
Oh well, Mel Brooks sure dropped the ball... BIG TIME!
This is nowhere near the level of his previous works like Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs, History of the World part I, etc. I predict this show won't last long and will quickly be forgotten. Another great franchise destroyed.
Disappointing.
bobbywell8 March 2023
I loved the REAL History Of The World. It was great. It was well written subtle and memorable. The cast from that movie were all at the top of their game. I watched it about a months ago.
I just saw this "original" series. I don't even chuckle one time.
The jokes were flat. The timing was off. And all the references to modem culture were just awkward.
Unnecessary swearing trying to be "relevant". You can tell by the fact that this is a very poorly executed sequel that Hulu is owned by Disney.
This is not worth the time it takes to watch it.
Apparently now IMDB requires 600 characters ( to protect one of their IPs) So just don't watch this.
I just saw this "original" series. I don't even chuckle one time.
The jokes were flat. The timing was off. And all the references to modem culture were just awkward.
Unnecessary swearing trying to be "relevant". You can tell by the fact that this is a very poorly executed sequel that Hulu is owned by Disney.
This is not worth the time it takes to watch it.
Apparently now IMDB requires 600 characters ( to protect one of their IPs) So just don't watch this.
I love that everybody is having fun!
kelan_potucek30 March 2023
History of the World: Part 1 was great and I love everything that Mel Brooks does. I miss the days of slapstick comedy... Anything Mel, Naked Gun, Airplane, etc... I'm not sure why people are so disappointed by this?! You can't make the same Mel Brooks shows these days because y'all are too sensitive. I think this is a great swan song for Mel. He took all of his humor and incorporated the top comedians to put their own style into it. Just enjoy it and have fun! It'd be great to see another Naked Gun or Airplane. Not a remake, but a continuation. Anyways, I thought this was fun and funny. Don't take yourselves so seriously. You're not real film critics.
Funny reminder of irreverent comedy
bioidentix31 August 2023
This show has a difficult job which is competing against the ghost of a movie people have replayed over and over for more than 40 years. HOTW 1 is one of my all time fav comedies.
Its hard to review this as if you just saw the original yesterday and many of the negative reviews are almost like comparing a new Mona Lisa 2.0 to the original, basically impossible to fairly do.
That said this really is a funny show totally in the vein of the original. I got lots of laughs out of it in a very similar way to when I first watched the original.
The only gripe is they seem to have avoided the sexy side of the old comedy and some other subjects that might have exposed them to the hyperactive cancel culture of today. Mel Brooks works like HOTW and Blazing Saddles couldn't really be made today.
While there are all sorts of subjects they clearly couldn't touch this really is funny and in the same style as the original.
Its hard to review this as if you just saw the original yesterday and many of the negative reviews are almost like comparing a new Mona Lisa 2.0 to the original, basically impossible to fairly do.
That said this really is a funny show totally in the vein of the original. I got lots of laughs out of it in a very similar way to when I first watched the original.
The only gripe is they seem to have avoided the sexy side of the old comedy and some other subjects that might have exposed them to the hyperactive cancel culture of today. Mel Brooks works like HOTW and Blazing Saddles couldn't really be made today.
While there are all sorts of subjects they clearly couldn't touch this really is funny and in the same style as the original.
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