Don't call me Shirley! (Airplane! (DVD))

Member Name: kjl12

Product:	Airplane! (DVD)
Date:	08/05/05 (524 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: gags come thick and fast, Leslie Nielsen, excellent spoof

Disadvantages: not PC, a bit dated

***the plot***

This is the classic spoof disaster movie, so don't be surprised at anything...The basic plot is quite sensible, however. Everyone on board who has had the fish as in in-flight meal is struck down with violent food poisoning, including everyone who could safely land the plane. So it left to ex-Navy pilot Ted Striker (who is only on the flight to get his girlfriend back, who's a stewardess) to land the plane and he's been scared of flying since a wartime incident. So far, so good. And it has the traditional happy ending. But it's what happens along the way that makes it a classic, in fact the storyline is only actually a backdrop to some of the best physical and verbal comedy ever. But be warned, every time I watch it I end up thinking "they couldn't do that nowadays" - it is certainly not PC at all, so if that annoys you stay away!

***funniest bits***

I actually struggled to get it down to ten! But these will give you a flavour for the sort of humour to expect:

Capt. Clarence Oveur - I love it when people take the trouble to give a character a name just for a gag (like in Spaceballs) and this is a classic, when he gets on the radio in the plane, especially when the co-pilots' names are Roger and Victor....

The men who only speak in jive and need English subtitles except for one very posh lady who speaks their language are great - look out for the translations on the no smoking signs that read "El no a you Smoko"! Told you it isn't PC

I also like little touches like the couple who make the announcements at the airport who end up having a domestic about loading and unloading zones....And who could forget the bickering airport loudspeaker couple with their loading and unloading zones ..."Don't start up with your white zone s*** again!"

You soon learn to take nothing at face value in this film, so when you get to the refined little boy and girl courting over a coffee and she says she takes it black...like her men, you're not really surprised. Again, I did warn you - you either like it or loath it!

Then there's the Nun sitting reading Boy's Life magazine, opposite a boy reading Nun's Life! What I like is that you have to watch every second as the gags come thick and fast and you'll miss something if you look away at all.

The silly, literal jokes are classic - if you like Police Squad, you'll know what I mean. My favourites are:

‘There is a problem at the hospital’ ‘What is it?’ ‘It is a building where sick people go, but that is not important right now’.

and..

But surely… we could change it?’ ‘We couldn’t, and stop calling me Surely.’ (don't call me Shirley has become a running gag in our house..)

Leslie Nielsen is the doctor (who you can't call Shirley). Enough said. If you like his other films, you'll like this, it's very similar humour.

***the downside**

It is not PC, and can sometimes feel like a film out of time - it's not timeless like Spaceballs. As a result, some of the jokes fall flat or seem rather tasteless, but as the jokes come thick and fast you'll find something to like round the corner.

I also think this film is one of those love it or hate it jobs..it's great if you like this kind of humour - these guys did the Naked Gun films for example - but otherwise you'll just find it irritating or you just won't get it. It's an acquired taste, I suppose.

***the bottom line***

Robert Hays Ted Striker
Julie Hagerty Elaine Dickinson
Lloyd Bridges Steven McCrosky
Leslie Nielsen Dr. Rumack
Robert Stack Capt. Rex Kramer
Peter Graves Capt. Clarence Oveur
Lorna Patterson Randy
Stephen Stucker Johnny Hinshaw
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Roger Murdock (as Kareem Abdul-Jabaar)
Otto Himself - The Inflatable Autopilot
Jim Abrahams Religious zealot #6
Frank Ashmore Victor Basta
Jonathan Banks Gunderson
Craig Berenson Paul Carey
Barbara Billingsley I speak jive lady


Also Known As:
Flying High (Australia)
Kentucky Fried Airplane (USA) (working title)
Runtime: 88 min
made in 1980

Summary: