Robin Hood: Men In Tights (1993) -
To deliver a story of the greatest outlaw ever known, this film was so obviously a composite of all the Robin Hood stories that had gone before, including the Disney version (1973), the Errol Flynn version (1938), the Richard Greene TV Series and certainly the Douglas Fairbanks 1922 film. That was clear by Cary Elwes continued mimicry of that actor as he had done in 'The Princess Bride' (1987), but this particular film most definitively presented a parody of 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves' (1991) with some scenes being almost like for like and direct references or jokes aimed at that film made only two years before.
It really was very silly though and the humour was crude and simple. There were times when I thought that it was a bit pants and others that made me laugh out loud, which I do tend to find has been the case with most of Mel Brooks' films and I have only found that balance to be acceptable in 'Spaceballs' (1987) and 'Blazing Saddles' (1974). This production came close to doing it well, but just teetered in to the ridiculous a tad too often.
For instance, Tracy Ulman as Latrine was terrible in her role representing the witch character from 'RH:POT', but in a really sleazy sex mad and depraved way.
And Roger Rees' speech impediment got quite annoying, although he was quite good otherwise as a version of Alan Rickman's Sheriff (Obviously not a patch on Al's performance). That doesn't mean that I wasn't a bit disappointed with him at times for some of the things that he did lower himself to do.
I did like King John played by Richard Lewis however. There was nothing specific to remark about what he delivered, but he just seemed to fit the character well.
Cary Elwes made a good Robin Hood too, but it was almost like a copy and paste for him from his previous role as Westley.
I did feel that there were some obvious moments that had caught Mike Myers attention and where he had got some of his comedic ideas from for his 'Austin Powers' (1997 - 2002) films - The mole, the silhouette and just some of the general humour.
As I've stated above, the storyline was very similar to Kevin Kostner's interpretation, with the titular man returning home from the crusades and determined to restore freedom to the land, ending King John's tyranny and that of his Sheriff along the way, whilst also gathering a band of Merry Men and falling for the the charms of the fair Lady Marian. This attempt was laden with jokes, some that hit the right note for me and others that fell flat and while I wouldn't shy away from seeing it again, I also wouldn't ever prioritise it. As films go there are definitely better attempts at telling the legend of Rob and his Merry Fellas and as comedies go there are certainly funnier ones out there, because this one had sadly fallen in to a category of being dated. That was due to so much of its time being spent on slapstick comedy that may have been a bit out of touch even in 1993. I don't know if Mr. Brooks had ever intended for it to be timeless, but the soundtrack alone put it right back there in the early nineties. With that said I did actually enjoy the small musical interludes, which added to the fun, which the film was in all fairness. I couldn't have come away from it feeling upset, disgusted or angered, because it just didn't hit those sorts of notes, but there was plenty of scope for something more polished and less silly.
Perhaps the production was meant to be aimed at families and they tried too hard to provide something for everyone instead of just making it funny, but the cheaper jokes didn't hit home with me as much and lacked longevity.
Fun for all the family certainly, but not one to get excited about or to expect much from.
639.99/1000.
To deliver a story of the greatest outlaw ever known, this film was so obviously a composite of all the Robin Hood stories that had gone before, including the Disney version (1973), the Errol Flynn version (1938), the Richard Greene TV Series and certainly the Douglas Fairbanks 1922 film. That was clear by Cary Elwes continued mimicry of that actor as he had done in 'The Princess Bride' (1987), but this particular film most definitively presented a parody of 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves' (1991) with some scenes being almost like for like and direct references or jokes aimed at that film made only two years before.
It really was very silly though and the humour was crude and simple. There were times when I thought that it was a bit pants and others that made me laugh out loud, which I do tend to find has been the case with most of Mel Brooks' films and I have only found that balance to be acceptable in 'Spaceballs' (1987) and 'Blazing Saddles' (1974). This production came close to doing it well, but just teetered in to the ridiculous a tad too often.
For instance, Tracy Ulman as Latrine was terrible in her role representing the witch character from 'RH:POT', but in a really sleazy sex mad and depraved way.
And Roger Rees' speech impediment got quite annoying, although he was quite good otherwise as a version of Alan Rickman's Sheriff (Obviously not a patch on Al's performance). That doesn't mean that I wasn't a bit disappointed with him at times for some of the things that he did lower himself to do.
I did like King John played by Richard Lewis however. There was nothing specific to remark about what he delivered, but he just seemed to fit the character well.
Cary Elwes made a good Robin Hood too, but it was almost like a copy and paste for him from his previous role as Westley.
I did feel that there were some obvious moments that had caught Mike Myers attention and where he had got some of his comedic ideas from for his 'Austin Powers' (1997 - 2002) films - The mole, the silhouette and just some of the general humour.
As I've stated above, the storyline was very similar to Kevin Kostner's interpretation, with the titular man returning home from the crusades and determined to restore freedom to the land, ending King John's tyranny and that of his Sheriff along the way, whilst also gathering a band of Merry Men and falling for the the charms of the fair Lady Marian. This attempt was laden with jokes, some that hit the right note for me and others that fell flat and while I wouldn't shy away from seeing it again, I also wouldn't ever prioritise it. As films go there are definitely better attempts at telling the legend of Rob and his Merry Fellas and as comedies go there are certainly funnier ones out there, because this one had sadly fallen in to a category of being dated. That was due to so much of its time being spent on slapstick comedy that may have been a bit out of touch even in 1993. I don't know if Mr. Brooks had ever intended for it to be timeless, but the soundtrack alone put it right back there in the early nineties. With that said I did actually enjoy the small musical interludes, which added to the fun, which the film was in all fairness. I couldn't have come away from it feeling upset, disgusted or angered, because it just didn't hit those sorts of notes, but there was plenty of scope for something more polished and less silly.
Perhaps the production was meant to be aimed at families and they tried too hard to provide something for everyone instead of just making it funny, but the cheaper jokes didn't hit home with me as much and lacked longevity.
Fun for all the family certainly, but not one to get excited about or to expect much from.
639.99/1000.