Robin Hood: Men in Tights

I am a HUGE Mel Brooks fan of his films from the 60's and 70's, but ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS pales in comparison to his earlier works.

Spoofing the legend and even more so, the 1991 Kevin Costner film version, some of the gags are now pretty dated without the other film as context.

Don't get me wrong, this goofy farce has its moments, but its plagued by a pretty low land rate among its endless pratfalls and burlesque style humor, especially in the first half.

It was fifteen minutes in before I even smiled, and that was upon the arrival of a young Dave Chappelle, who's hilarious any time he's on screen as Ahchoo. Issac Hayes appears as his father, Asneeze. That pretty much sums up much of the humor here. If you think that's funny, you're going to love this movie.

Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride) as Robin Hood is a perfect straight man for all the absurdity that surrounds him.

Maid Marian's Everlast chastity belt is pretty funny, but Amy Yasbeck is dull and one-note.

Richard Lewis is a crack up as Prince John and Tracey Ullman steals the show as Latrine, the hideous sorceress he consults.

The soldiers in armor falling like dominoes is a great sight gag as is the "Men in Tights" song, which is sure to knock any snowflake off their steed in its political incorrectness.

Mel Brooks is hilarious as the traveling Rabbi Tuckman and his entire scene is a blast. He's peddling circumcisions and after initially volunteering, Ahchoo yells out, "I forgot, I already got one!" Dom DeLuise nails a perfect Brando impression as Don Giovanni. Those two scenes are the best ten minutes of the entire film.

I loved Cary Elwes' belting out an old fashioned (horribly dubbed) love song to Marian as his gang of Merry Men watch behind the curtain. When he goes for the high note and blows her hair back, I cracked up. Mike Myers would seriously up the misinterpreted shadows laughs featured here in his Austin Powers films.

Seeing Robert Ridgely back from "Blazing Saddles" as the same hangman is a highlight too. His taunting of Robin in the hangman's noose is a lot of fun.

For a truly great comedy about knights and legends, I always go back to "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". Any five minutes of that brilliant film has more laughs than this entire one hour and 44 minutes in Sherwood Forest.

However, these MEN IN TIGHTS do provide thee occasional laughs, so I'll dub this with a C.