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"Spaceballs"
Directed by Mel Brooks
Starring Mel Brooks, John
Candy and Rick Moranis
★★V2
Just as Alfred Hitchcock is
considered to be the master of
suspense, Mel Brooks might be
considered to be the master of
parody. Brooks’ only problem
is that he can’t be as
constantly brilliant as
Hitchcock was.
After making a name for
himself as a comedian, comic
writer, actor and television
producer during the ’50s and
’60s, Brooks turned to
filmmaking in 1965 with the
Oscar-winning short film, “The
Critic.” His first full-length film,
“The Producers” (1968) won
an Academy Award for Best
Original Screenplay and is
considered by some to be an
American classic.
For “Spaceballs, ” Brooks
parodies the science fiction
genre of film. There are
elements of “The Wizard of
Oz,” “Star Trek,” “Alien” and
“The Planet of the Apes”
sprinkled throughout the film
but, for the most part, the “Star
Wars” trilogy is Brooks’ main
target. “Star Wars, ” which
wasn’t meant to be taken
seriously in the first place,
doesn’t provide good material
for parody because it was so
funny to begin with.
“Spaceballs” could have been
better if Brooks had reached
out and attacked more science
fiction films.
In “Spaceballs,” President
Skroob (Brooks) of the airless
planet Spaceball wants to steal
the air from the forest world of
Druidia. Skroob and his right
hand bad guy, the evil Lord
Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis),
try to kidnap Princess Vespa
(Daphne Zuniga) so that her
father, King Roland of Druidia
(Dick Van Patten), will
surrender his planet’s air.
Instead, Roland calls
instersteller outlaw Lone Starr
(Bill Pullman) and his sidekick,
Barf (John Candy), to rescue
the Princess.
Starr and Barf save the
Princess and her droid, Dot
Matrix (Lorene Yarnell, voice
by Joan Rivers), seconds
before they are captured. The
foursome crash land on the
planet Vega and meet the great
wizard Yogurt (also Brooks).
Yogurt begins to teach Starr
the way of the “Schwartz”
before Vespa is kidnapped.
Starr is forced to battle Dark
Helmet, master of the dark side
of the “Schwartz, ” so that he
can save Vespa and Druidia’s
air.
Brooks has a strange, vulgar
and somewhat childish sense of
humor that is often very funny
but sometimes too stupid for its
own good. There are several
moments in “Spaceballs” that
are incredibly funny — the first
appearacne of the Spaceball
ship, the evil Pizza the Hurt,
Yogurt’s helpful Dinks, the
Spaceball Stormtroopers
“combing” the desert for clues
and John Hurt’s cameo in
which he reprises his role in
“Alien,” to name a few. But
there aren’t enough laughs to
Best Bets
Howdy! Here we are again. This week was a
short one and now the long weekend is
ahead, waiting to be enjoyed. If you’re going
out of town and planning to be on the road,
be extra careful. But if you decide not to take
the ultimate road trip this weekend, Best Bets
is here to provide you with unique
entertainment opportunities which can be
reached with little difficulty. If your agency or
group has a unique event coming up, let us
know by calling At Ease at 845-3312.
Friday, July 3
Fireworks Display: To get you into the 4th
of July spirit, Post Oak Mall will light the sky
with a fireworks display. The show begins at 9
p.m. in the parking lot by Sears Automotive,
so go out and take your lawn chair, or sit in
the back of a pickup truck and enjoy yourself.
Saturday, July 4
All-Day Swim: If you like to swim, a 4th of
July celebration at Bee Creek Pool consisting
of swimming, swimming, and more swimming
will make you very happy. Gates open to the
general public at noon and close at 6 p. m.
Admission is $1.
More Swimming: Another place to consider
for an afternoon swim is the Bryan Aquatic
Center. The 4th of July party begins at noon
and runs until 8 p.m.
More Fireworks: If you live on campus and
are in the mood for celebrating the long
weekend, head out to Olsen Field around
dark for an Aggie-style fireworks display.
Special Guest: If you haven’t bought your
tickets for the Gary Morris concert, you still
have plenty of time. He is performing in
Brenham, July 10, at the Silver Wings
Ballroom. The performance is from 8 p.m. to
midnight and the Texas Unlimited Band will
also appear. If you’re interested, you can buy
advance tickets for $ 10 at all Courts Western
Wear Stores. Waiting until you get to the door
will cost you $12.
justify the full price of $4.50 for
the evening show. The matinee
is a better bargin.
There’s one scene in the film
that gives a good suggestion for
getting some top quality
Brooks’ humor. After Starr and
Barr grab Vespa from the
Spaceball ship, Skroob and
Dark Helmet hunt them down
by renting the videocassette of
“Spaceballs” and fast-
forwarding to the next scene
where the four crash on Vega.
The video machine had only
eight other films for rent: “The
Producers, ” “The Twelve
Chairs, ” “Blazing Saddles, ”
“Young Frankenstein, ” “Silent
Movie, ” “High Anxiety, ”
“History of the World, Part I”
and “To Be or Not To Be. ” If
you want a lot of laughs, rent
“The Producers,” “Blazing
Saddles” or “Young
Frankenstein. ” If you want a
handfull of laughs, rent any of
the other Brooks’ films or go
see “Spaceballs. ’—Review by
Karl Pallmeyer
At Ease Staff
Editor
Karen Kroesche
Assistants
Anne Dejoie
Melisa Hohlt
Reviewer
Karl Pallmeyer
Production
Alan Sembera
Don’t
Worry
when an accident
or sudden illness
occurs
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with affordable
medical care.
Pharmacy now open 7 days a week
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(across from Kroger Center)