Robin Hood: Men in Tights

Robin Hood: Men in Tights is one of my favorite Mel Brooks movies. I probably say that about all of Mel Brooks’ movies, because I love all of them so much, but it’s a really close tie for first between this and Spaceballs. Blazing Saddles comes in at a close second. But only by a little.  

Men in Tights stars Cary Elwes as Robin Hood, Amy Yasbeck as Maid Marian, Richard Lewis as Prince John, Roger Rees as the Sheriff of Rottingham, and Dave Chappelle as Ahchoo. Mel Brooks makes his usual appearance as Rabbi Tuckman, and he also appears as the creepy old guy in the room with the four ladies with large breasts. He’s uncredited in the scene, but you can tell it’s Mel.  

What I love about this movie is the little things that Mel Brooks puts in all of his movies. Things that a lot of people don’t get right away. There’s a scene in the beginning where three jockeys are riding camels across the beach as Robin is escaping a jail in Jerusalem. “Camel jockey” is a racial slur for Middle Eastern people… When I was 10, I didn’t get that joke. I didn’t know about that racial slur. It wasn’t until years later, when I learned more about racial disparagement, that I fully understood how funny that scene really was.  

But the movie isn’t about inside jokes. It’s about blatantly funny comedy. And it is blatantly funny. It’s a parody. Which Mel Brooks is the king of. He does it so well it’s almost criminal. The movie doesn’t have as many quotable lines because most of Mel Brooks’ jokes need the rest of the context to be funny. But there are a few lines that are funny just by themselves. It’s the kind of movie that you could watch over and over again and not get bored of. 

So yeah, go and see Robin Hood: Men in Tights. If you don’t love it, there’s gotta be something wrong with you. Because it’s definitely one of Mel Brooks’ funniest movies. And as always, keep on watching, with a smile on your face…