When cab driver Ted Striker (Robert Hays) tries to win back his girlfriend Elaine (Julie Hagerty), she tells him its over and boards a plane where she works as an air hostess. Quickly boarding the same plane without her knowledge, he aims to win her back. But when the pilots and passengers are struck down by food poisoning, its down to Striker, an ex-pilot haunted by his memories of war, unorthodox doctor Rumack (Leslie Nielsen) and an inflatable co-pilot to help steer its passengers to safety. Also, the pressure is on the air traffic controllers who must help Striker overcome his fear of flying, so they bring in Striker's old commander Rex Kramer (Robert Stack).
Spoofing the old airplane disaster films of the 70's, Airplane! is quite possibly the best spoof ever made. Back in the day when Jim Abrahams and the Zucker brothers were inspired and were actually capable of making good films, they don't miss any opportunities. I've never seen a film so packed and condensed with visual gags and witty jokes literally from beginning to end. This was Leslie Nielsen's first comedy role, and from the moment an air hostess asks him if he's a doctor and he sits their straight faced with a stethoscope round his neck and says 'yes, I'm a doctor', it's clear that they have stumbled upon someone truly special. Spending most of his career as a leading man (notably in the fantastic Forbidden Planet (1956)), he was a true find as a comedy actor. There are many so funny moments that I felt exhausted when it ended.
Country: USA
Rating: *****
Tom Gillespie
No comments:
Post a Comment