The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood (1984 TV Movie) User Reviews

Amazingly funny IF you like this sort of quirkiness

[mcorrigan10 · 10/10 · 9 February 2010]

"The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood" is a love-it or hate-it proposition. The humor is relentlessly quirky. Think of "Last Action Hero" or "Demolition Man". Not for everybody, but perfect for some. I think it's a laugh riot.

"Zany Robin Hood" was made for TV. It's sort of a mini-movie. As far as I know, it exists only on the VHS tapes of those lucky enough to have recorded it. I watch it every couple of years and laugh every time I see it.

"Zany Robin Hood" is very hard to describe. It's a combination of broad slapstick and subtle irony. Most of the actors are first-rate.

Plot: Robin Hood rallies the peasants by promising that King Richard will establish what is, essentially, a 20th-century socialist democracy.

Examples of the sort of humor to expect:

• When Robin's Merry Men jump from the trees to attack, they yell "Geronimo"! - Robin secures funding for his rebellion by promising to establish a Jewish state of Israel. - Robin's minstrel thinks he's a musical genius. No one can stop him from making up terrible songs about the slightest of their deeds.

Like I said, not everyone's cup of English tea. But if you have the right sort of funny bone, this will be one of your favorites.

The Best Compliment - It's Great Comedy From A Great Man (and Cast)

[happipuppi13 · 10/10 · 2 May 2022]

I had the great luck to see this on late night TV in December of 2005 and all I can say is,it made me laugh at everything that was supposed to be funny.

George Segal, was over the top funny as the most unlikely Robin Hood in movie history. I wont go into scene details but everything was played to the hilt here or played with simpler humor as well.

So glad I could a few years ago find a VHS tape copy... still seeking DVD, but in conclusion, bravo to George and his cast!

I'll just say , if you get a chance to view it, I hope you find it as entertaining as I did. I can reccomend it but I wont guarantee we'll share the same opinion...but hopefully you'll like it as well.

A great job of creating just plain crazy but well done comedy. (END)

R. I. P. George Segal .

My favorite line

[kateritholbert · 10/10 · 3 January 2011]

This is not your normal Robin Hood movie. I believe it is very funny and want to see it again. There is a lot of slapstick comedy involved and it is not the best filmed movie, but I think that adds to it.

My favorite line is when Maid Marion and I think Elemaor are riding and talking. Maid Marion is getting frustrated and tells ?? (I can't remember who for sure) "Put a zipper on it." The response is "Zipper? What's a zipper?"

I may not have the quotes word for word since it's been years since I have seen the movie. I had it on VHS, but have since lost it or it broke. I would really like to get another copy of it though.

I wish I could add this to my collection!

[hjgraham-1 · 10/10 · 13 November 2012]

I've been looking for this for my collection for years. It is one of the funniest films I have ever seen, and well worth the time taken to watch it. Don't expect a usual Robin Hood yarn - it's even crazier than the Disney fox-and-vixen version...

There are plenty of one-liners with 'modern' references (one or two too many American references, though) and brilliant casting (Robert Hardy as King Richard is a classic). I particularly remember Maid Marion's frustration because she promised to remain chaste until marriage and Queen Eleanor's laid-back attitude to life (even chastising her son John because he didn't kill a man until he was in his mid-teens!), but I especially love the part when a group of 'good Jewish boys' 'syncronise their voices' - then count seconds in unison as they infiltrate the dungeon. And the monks singing '99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall' when urged to 'Sing something holy.' And... And... Priceless.

Now put it on DVD so I can own a copy!

A delightfully entertaining spoof of good old Robin Hood.

[JohnHowardReid · 8/10 · 17 May 2017]

Admittedly, the movie gets off to a slow, extremely talkative start with Roddy McDowall making a strained if hearty attempt to improve the comic mileage of some very insipid dialogue by hammily over- acting. However, once the locale moves to Sherwood Forest, the dialogue really crackles. We loved Segal giving Gisborne twenty guesses as to his identity. Then he tells the Normans to vamoose, but only one of the opposing soldiers vaults on to his steed and gallops hastily away. "What about the rest of you?" demands our Robin. "Well, I'm Mick and he's Harry and there's George. There's only one Norman among the lot of us and he's just ridden off!"

Full of deliberate anachronisms and topical allusions, the film, led by Segal's puckish Robin, is played by all concerned with such wonderful gusto and enthusiasm that its humor finally becomes both infectious and irresistible. Production values are surprisingly lavish, with no expense spared on props, costumes, locations and heaps of extras.

Austin's direction evinces occasional touches of style, but could do with more polish. And of course, betraying the hand of a small- screen man, there are far too many close-ups.Nonetheless, by the humble standards of the television movie, "The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood" comes as a most agreeable surprise.