Film Review: Airplane!

[bisonbison]

I'm home sick with the flu today, so my plan is to watch a lot of movies. First up: Airplane!

After a certain point, I gave up on the Zucker Zucker Abrahams movies. Maybe it was Airplane 2, maybe Naked Gun 33 1/3, or maybe it was when Mel Brooks got in on the act and sodomized the last leaden bits of funny with Robin Hood Men in Tights and Dracula: Dead and Loving It. The absurdity got tiring and the jokes got old.

And then, I find myself watching Airplane! and I realize a movie with Leslie Neilsen can be funny. I'm attentive because they're not telegraphing every single joke and I don't want to miss one. You realize how they managed to make so many bad movies - the good one worked so well.

Sure, they're playing it predictably broad when the singing stewardess knocks the IV out, but the moment right before, when the whole cabin tunes in and a man's head drops in from the ceiling is golden.

The leads appear to have been cast for their total lack of charisma. Robert Hays is as blank as the role requires, and Julie Hagerty does overwhelmed to a tee, but there's not much there beyond that for either, and if I never see Elaine's skeletal features again, it'll be too soon.

But in the supporting cast, they hit the gold mine. You can't beat Robert Stack as the grim realist, or Mrs. Cleaver as the jive talking old woman, and Kareem looks genuinely distressed that he can't enjoy his moonlighting gig as a pilot. Even Leslie Neilsen (now so deep into farces that he's lost all the screen credibility that would make the farces sharp) is great as the by-the-book doctor.

But really, it's the little touches:
Robert Graves could be a pedophile, or he might just be a huge fan of homosexual sex.
The passenger in the cab waits the entire movie, and then waits some more.
In the slapping line, there are people in line after the woman with the gun, cause damnit, they're still gonna get their licks in.
Captain Oveur's wife is having an affair with a horse - 'You can show yourself out. Leave by the back door.'
The fat man sliding away from Striker at the bar when he asks to get pinched.


Rewatchability: 6-10 times a year, more if you're feeling pleasant or stoned.

Score: 4.5/5

[PoBoy321]

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinkin.

[bisonbison]

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinkin.

Watching Lloyd Bridges in this one, you realize why Jeff and Beau Bridges are so chill.

[slickpoppa]

- Cream?
- No thank you. I take it black, like my men.

[bisonbison]

- Cream?
- No thank you. I take it black, like my men.

And the boy has a legitimately great reaction shot to that one.

[phillydilly]

and don't call me shirley

[Pocketducks]

Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffin' glue

[xadrez]

Sheeet man, that honky must be messin wit my old lady, got to be running cold upside his head you know?

[smokingrobot]

one of the greatest comedies out there. along with blazing saddles and dr. strangelove

[Dominic]

Looks like you picked the wrong day to stop taking flu medicine.