Spaceballs is a 1987 science fiction spoof movie written, directed by, and starring Mel Brooks.
Plot
Planet Spaceball has foolishly wasted all of its air and is desperate to find more. President Skroob and his top military leader, Dark Helmet (along with his aide Colonel Sandurz), devise a plan to kidnap Princess Vespa and extort Planet Druidia into giving all of its air to the Spaceballs.
Meanwhile, King Roland hires two mercenaries—Captain Lone Starr and Barf, who are desperate for money—to get Princess Vespa back to Druidia so that she can marry Prince Valium. They are helped by the wise alien sage known as Yogurt and the mysterious power he possesses, called the Schwartz.
In the end, Lone Starr and Barf are able to rescue the princess, destroy the Spaceballs' spaceship, and get the Druidian air back. And at the very end (of course), Lone Starr and Vespa get married. As for Skroob, Dark Helmet, and Colonel Sandurz, they survive a crash-landing on the Planet of the Apes.
Cultural context
The plot is deliberately evocative of fairy tales, as are the scenes on the planet Druidia. The majority of the scenes and characters are parodies of Star Wars, although it parodies other movies as well. The most notable are Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Wizard of Oz, Planet of the Apes, Rambo, Max Headroom, and Alien (with John Hurt reprising his famous scene from that movie). The film also mocks various aspects of 1980s culture, including fast food, action figures, and merchandising. Robin Hood: Men in Tights, a later-made movie also by Mel Brooks, borrowed from the main storyline of Spaceballs.
Some critics pointed out that since timing is the essence of comedy it was odd that Brooks should have waited ten years to spoof Star Wars, though his supporters say that he wanted to wait until the entire trilogy was available for mocking.
Episodes I and II of the Star Wars prequel trilogy appear to pay homage to this parody, notably the over-the-top outfits of Queen / Senator Amidala and the spheroid spaceships of the Trade Federation.
In September 2004, a sequel to Spaceballs was announced, due to come out in 2005 to coincide with the theatrical release of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
Representative quotes
Lone Starr: I wonder: Will we ever see each other again?
Yogurt: Who knows? God willing, we'll all meet again in Spaceballs 2: the Search for More Money.
Dark Helmet: What's the matter, Colonel Sandurz? CHICKEN?
President Skroob: Sandurz, Sandurz! You got to help me! I don't know what to do. I can't make decisions! I'm a president!
Cast
See also
External links
Last updated: 10-18-2005 03:40:30
