...And stop calling me Shirley! (Airplane! (DVD))

Member Name: aero-zeppelin

Product:	Airplane! (DVD)
Date:	09/06/09 (17 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Witty, incredibely funny, great script, HILARIOUS

Disadvantages: none, I have no complaints!

Without giving too much away, Airplane is a 1980 spoof comedy disaster film about a plane that is unable to land because the pilot crew have become ill after eating fish which contained something to knock them unconcious, therefore one of the passengers has to land the plane. The man to do so is Ted Striker (Robert Hays), a former pilot during the war, who has a fear of flying because of an accident during the war, but overcomes his fear and then all is well.

Doesn't sound like too much of a comedy does it? The basic plot I have given may not sound that good but the writers Jim Abrahams, and David and Jerry Zucker have turned the basic plot into one of the best comedy films of all time. I'd rank it up there with other legendary comedy films such as Monty Python's Life of Brian, though it could perhaps be better compared to similar spoof movies of that time such as Blazing Saddles and Space Balls. It is so cleverly written, it uses vasts amount of humour, making great uses of the English language, with great emphasis on puns throughout. For example, Airplane's trademark 'Surely you can't be serious' asked by Striker, to which Dr Rumack (Leslie Nielsen) replies 'I am serious...and stop calling me Shirley'. This is one of the many great use of puns throughout the film. As well as the use of puns, there are great uses of sight gags, such as when Striker is asked whether he wants a Smoking or non-Smoking ticket, he asks for Smoking and receives a ticket which is smoking as if it were on fire. I could literaly go on forever listing all the uses of comedy throughout the film, but I'll give it a miss and give you more of my opinion.

I've seen this film many times now, and I can't really say I'm bored of it. There are just so many different uses of humour, it literally has you laughing or at least smiling for the whole of the film. I would indefinitely recommend this film to anyone who likes a laugh or needs uplifting, because this film could do it over and over again. I watched it today for what must've been the 10th time, and it gets funnier every time. I enjoy it so much. I would have to say it's one of the funniest films of all time, and it would take an ingenious film writer to top it. For the sequel, much of the cast reprised their roles, but different writers left it with bad reviews. Although I haven't seen the sequel, I highly doubt it would be as good as this one.

The special features on the single DVD edition which I have include commentary by the writers, a theatrical trailer, and a long haul version which allows you to view an extended version of the film including deleted scenes.

If you were to buy Airplane on DVD, it would'nt cost you that much at all, say around the £3-£4 mark from any DVD retailer. Buy it however much it costs, as far as I'm concerned it's laughs for a lifetime. It would take a lot to get bored of this film.

Summary: You don't have to understand the storyline, it's laughable throughout.