Long live the Spoof movie! With ‘Superhero Movie’ out today we look at ten of the best spoof flicks.
In the latest churn-’em-and-burn-’em genre parody flick, ‘Superhero Movie’, we watch as the likes of Spiderman, Batman and the Fantastic Four face their greatest nemesis to date – the spoof movie. As spoof movies go, the film offers a handful of sophomoric (in a good way) and worthwhile laughs to even the most serious-minded comic-book fans (think Spider-Man with dirtier jokes). With Superhero Movie hitting cinemas today, we look at ten classic spoof flicks:
(1) Airplane!
It doesn’t get much funnier than this; Airplane! goes from stupid to funny to genius and back again…A plane’s passengers and pilot go down with food poisoning, and it’s up to a conflicted fighter pilot to save the day. Can he do it? You’ll probably be too busy laughing to notice! Memorable Quote: “There’s no reason to be alarmed, and we hope you’ll enjoy the rest of the flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?”
(2) The Naked Gun
Leslie Nielsen’s funniest role as Lt. Frank Drebin from Police Squad and his antics on the job, co-starring the lovable O.J. Simpson. Where did it all go wrong O.J, where did it all go wrong? Memorable Quote: “It’s the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girl dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day.”
(3) This is Spinal Tap
Rob Reiner’s ingenious documentary spoof of a rock band and their lives, starring Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer and Michael McKean,. They would later team up in such cult classics as Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman and A Mighty Wind. Memorable Quote: Watch it below!
(4)Scary Movie
Timing is key with the spoof movie and ‘Scary Movie’ arrived just in time. After a plethora of teen horrors, mainly due to the success of Scream, the genre was ripe for parody. Memorable Quote: “Kenny, I know you’re probably crappin’ in a bag right now, but when I say move it that means get your plasma packin’ I.V. draggin, bed-sore havin butt over here now!”
(5) Galaxy Quest
A classic sci-Fi spoof, which manages to poke fun at Star Trek and all those sci-fi conventions that don’t quite make sense. Alan Rickman as the long-suffering “Mr Spock”-like character has us laughing every time. Memorable Quote: “the crew is on a shuttle descending to an alien planet] Guy: I changed my mind. I wanna go back. Sir Alexander Dane: After the fuss you made about getting left behind? Guy: Yeah, but that’s when I thought I was the crewman that stays on the ship, and something is up there, and it kills me. But now I’m thinking I’m the guy who gets killed by some monster five minutes after we land on the planet. Jason Nesmith: You’re not gonna die on the planet, Guy. Guy: I’m not? Then what’s my last name? Jason Nesmith: It’s, uh, uh – -I don’t know. Guy: Nobody knows. Do you know why? Because my character isn’t important enough for a last name, because I’m gonna die five minutes in. Gwen DeMarco: Guy, you have a last name. Guy: DO I? DO I? For all you know, I’m “Crewman Number Six”! Mommy… mommy…
(6)Young Frankenstein
A Mel Brooks classic, spoofing the Frankenstein movie, about a scientist who creates a living human monster and the shenanigans it causes. Starring Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Madeleine Kahn and Teri Garr. Memorable Quotes: Igor: Dr. Frankenstein… Dr. Friedrich von Frankenstein: “Fronkensteen.” Igor: You’re putting me on. Dr. Friedrich von Frankenstein: No, it’s pronounced “Fronkensteen.” Igor: Do you also say “Froaderick”? Dr. Friedrich von Frankenstein: No… “Frederick.” Igor: Well, why isn’t it “Froaderick Fronkensteen”? Dr. Friedrich von Frankenstein: It isn’t; it’s “Frederick Fronensteen.” Igor: I see. Dr. Friedrich von Frankenstein: You must be Igor. [He pronounces it ee-gor.] Igor: No, it’s pronounced “eye-gor.” Dr. Friedrich von Frankenstein: But they told me it was “ee-gor.” Igor: Well, they were wrong, weren’t they?
(7) Spaceballs
An often overlooked Mel Brooks spoof of the Star Wars movies. Rick Moranis as Lord Dark Helmet and Bill Pullman as Lonestar. John Candy is hilarious as the Chewbaka type Mog (half man half dog, his own best friend) named Barfolemew and Joan Rivers as the annoying Jewish mother type Robot Dot Matrix. Much like in star Wars, Lonestar needs to rescue the princess Vespa from the evil Dark Helmet. Lot of gags, one liners and general hilarity.
(8) Austin Powers
Take two parts Bond and one part ‘Saturday Night Fever’ and you have Mike Myers classic Spoof. Memorable Quote: Vanessa Kensington: Mr. Powers, I would never have sex with you, ever! If you were the last man on earth and I was the last woman on earth, and the future of the human race depended on our having sex, simply for procreation, I still would not have sex with you.Austin Powers: What’s your point, Vanessa?
(9) Robin Hood- Men In Tights
Another of Mel Brooks’ many spoofs, this one hits at the core of Kevin Costner horrendous performance in the ‘Prince of Thieves’. Funny scenes throughout, with good British sounding performance by Cary Elwes as Robin, Richard Lewis as Prince John and Dave Chappelle as Ahchoo. A worthy spoof to this list. Memorable Quote: “I tell you that tonight, we shall have a wedding. Or a hanging. Either way, we ought to have a lot of fun, huh?”
(10) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
The Monty Python troupe spoof the legendary King Arthur tale, and in doing so, introduce us to a killer rabbit and the bridge of Death. This is comedy at its very best. Memorable Quote: “I don’t want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.”
‘Superhero Movie’ is in Irish cinemas now.