Today’s quick review: Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Robin Hood (Cary Elwes) returns from the Crusades only to find his ancestral estate confiscated and his homeland in the grip of Prince John (Richard Lewis), the usurper to the throne, and his lackey, the dastardly Sheriff of Rottingham (Roger Rees). Together with his friend Ahchoo (Dave Chappelle) and his blind servant Blinkin (Mark Blankfield), Robin Hood sets out to overthrown the prince’s tyrannical rule and win the heart of Maid Marian (Amy Yasbeck).
Robin Hood: Men in Tights is a Robin Hood parody from Mel Brooks. Men in Tights skewers every part of the classic tale, from Robin’s comical escape from a Jerusalem prison to his overblown duel with Little John. The movie focuses on comedy more than storytelling, but it retains enough of the original story to keep the humor grounded. Its talented writing and great performances make the movie a well-executed, enjoyable comedy.
The humor in Men in Tights is on the silly side, even for Mel Brooks. The gags include slapstick, wordplay, and anachronisms, with a steady stream of cheap jokes and lowbrow humor to keep the laughs coming. The tone of the humor is surprisngly consistent given the movie’s hodgepodge of jokes. The movie maintains a healthy balance between its source material and the modern humor layered onto it, keeping the viewer’s expectations stable.
The characters are all caricatures and have been cast to suit. Cary Elwes plays the dashing hero Robin Hood, whose smug grin exemplifies the tone of the movie. Richard Lewis plays Prince John with an almost casual villainy, perfectly content to wallow in luxury until Robin comes along. They are joined by a talented cast who are given free rein with an ensemble of shallow but hilarious supporting characters.
Watch Robin Hood: Men in Tights if you are in the mood for a well-executed and unrepentantly silly comedy. While not a standout in its genre, Men in Tights is nonetheless a solid parody that fans of Blazing Saddles and History of the World: Part I will enjoy. Skip Men in Tights if you are looking for a subtle or dignified comedy.
6.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for silly humor and suitably ridiculous performances all around.