Robin Hood: Men in Tights

Mel Brooks has made a movie that's completely free and spontaneous, which at the same time is not in any way lazy or sloppy. [28 July 1993, p.E1]

It should be said that this negligible absence of Brooks’s boundary hopping wit and untamed performances doesn’t quite render Men in Tights unwatchable. There’s an appropriate, albeit languid merriment to the proceedings kept alive by a few choice cameos (Dick van Patten, Dom DeLouise, Brooks himself) and a handful of gags that land on their feet.

It hits a couple of ecstatically funny high points, only to plummet into a bog of second-rate gags, emerging a long time later to engage the audience by the sheer, unstoppable force of the Brooks chutzpah.

Sadly, this will not go down as one of Brooks' classics.

Instead of the inspired Brooks of Young Frankenstein, we get the middling Brooks of Spaceballs, in which you can see nearly every joke hovering like the Goodyear blimp. [28 July 1993, p.8D]

Many years ago, Mel Brooks made up his mind about what was funny and he hasn't budged since. [30 July 1993, p.21]

How this smart and funny man, he of the convulsive Tonight Show performances and the great Young Frankenstein, could end up putting his name on lame comedies like this one remains one of the great mysteries of the day. [28 July 1993, p.37]

Robin Hood: Men in Tights. They are real men. Robin Hood: Men in Tights is a parody comedy film created by Mel Brooks that makes fun of the classic versions of the Robin Hood story and popular films about the hero. The film is filled with humor, satire and funny scenes that parody the cliches of the adventure film genre and historical dramas. Brooks masterfully uses comedy techniques, playing with the audience's expectations and creating bright, memorable characters, such as the clumsy Robin or the villain Lord Fox. Visual gags, witty dialogue and unexpected twists make the film light and entertaining. Men in Tights is great for those who love parodies and humor with a satirical tinge. This is a fun and original work that not only makes you smile, but also shows a love for the adventure genre through the prism of humor.

Some of the jokes will stick with you for ages, some of the acting will make you raise your eyebrow, but in overall it is a pleasant and not demanding entertainment. The story covers the adventures of Robin of Loxley, who after returning from the crusade in Jerusalem, finds his family home taken away by the Prince John and his Sheriff on Nottingham because of unpaid taxes, which are unfair to the people. From here he embarks on a journey to throw the wrongful ruler from his throne with help of his new companions, falls in love and uses Maverick arrows, when needed. This movie features a wide cast of colorful characters, which you will still remember after a while, some good lines, some cheesy ones, but what is the most important - it featuers plain and simple fun. It's definetly worth watching at least once, if you're into Mel Brooks/slapstick comedy.

Elwes, as always, is a charming lead but the comedy just isn't there. So many jokes fail to land or they are used so much that they just become less and less funny over time. I think the comedy comes off as a bit forced as it seems they never let off the gas pedal once the film starts. It was like every other line was a punchline and it grew stale quickly.

It didn't aged well. Slow, predictable jokes, irritating songs. It's a "no" for me, sadly. Maybe you can find it funny if you are very young

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