Top 8 Parody Films of the 1980s (RMR 8th Anniversary Celebration Part 5/8)

Redmanwriter

May 31

Julien Neaves, Editor

I was watching the video Ten Things You Didn't Know About Scary Movie from Minty Comedic Arts and his discussion of the poor state of parody movies and his hope for a revival of the genre really resonated with me. And I agree that dreck like Meet the Spartans and Disaster Movie has sullied the term "parody movie" in the minds of modern moviegoers. Though we do have great stuff like Edgar Wright's Three Flavours Cornetto (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End), so there is hope for the genre.

As we continue to the celebration of the eighth anniversary of Robot Mango Reviews, I'll be revisiting a golden age of parody films, the 1980s, and ranking the top eight films from the decade of awesome.

#8 Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)

My voobs are down here!

Plot: Two American tabloid reporters head to Transylvania to investigate a report of Frankenstein's monster and find evidence of other classic monsters like a vampire, a werewolf and a Mummy.

Review: I checked out this horror parody for the purpose of this list. I had known little of the film going in other than the image of Geena Davis in the revealing vampire outfit. The movie features other stars, including Jeff Goldblum, Ed Begley Jr., Carol Kane and Michael Richards. And this one easily gets the bottom of the list because it is such a mixed bag. For every laugh-out-loud moment there are tiresome, unfunny bits that drag on forever, like Kane's hotel worker character Lupi bothering her husband and co-worker Radu (John Byner). It was an okay watch, but there are better horror parodies from outside the decade, like Young Frankenstein and Dracula: Dead and Loving It.

#7 UHF (1989)

If you keep making that faces, it's gonna get stuck like that

Plot: A daydreamer ends up managing a low-budget television station.

Review: UHF is basically a string of parody bits from music parody master "Weird Al" Yankovic held together with the thinnest of plots. But Yankovic mines a lot of comedy from the wide variety of bits, which range from spoofs of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Rambo, a music video parody of Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing" featuring The Beverly Hillbillies, and oddball takes on game shows, talk shows, product ads and TV ads. The Spatula City, Conan the Librarian and Raul Hernandez skits are among my personal favourites.

The film also showcases Michael Richards' physical comedy talents better than what we got in Transylvania 6-5000. And it is a wonderful time capsule of 80s wackiness.

#6 This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

And now...prepare to have your minds...blown!

Plot: Filmmaker Martin "Marty" Di Bergi films a documentary about about the titular English rock band's 1982 United States concert tour to promote their new album, Smell the Glove.

Review: Rob Reiner's directorial debut is a fantastic and hilarious film. This mockumentary and parody of music documentaries wonderfully satirises 70s metal bands. From an amp that goes to 11 to a less-than-impressive Stonehenge prop, the film boasts many comedic sequences that hit the right note. And Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer all turn in ridiculously delightful performances as the band members.

This Is Spinal Tap's placement on the list is more out of personal preference, as the heavy metal scene has never been my bag. But it is a brilliant comedy that deserves all the love and recognition it receives.

#5 I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)

Look at the size of that poop!

Plot: When a soldier returns home to find that his brother has overdosed on gold chains (OGed) he begins a personal war against the gold dealers.

Review: We move to another directorial debut with Keenen Ivory Wayans' blaxploitation parody I'm Gonna Git You Sucka but it is one that deserves a lot more love. This movie is nonsensical in the best way and features multiple gut-busting bits. From a very obvious stunt double to a pimp awkwardly reentering society to a character played by Chris Rock trying to purchase ribs with very little money, this movie is wall to wall silliness. If you haven't seen it (and sadly, that is the case for many viewers) do yourself a favour and check it out.

#4 The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

All I have in the fridge is three-year old Chinese food

Plot: Bumbling Police Squad Lieutenant Frank Drebin uncovers a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II.

Review: We stay in 1988 for this entry, and it's the late great comedy legend Leslie Nielsen in his best film ever that is an onslaught of slapstick comedy, visual and verbal puns and gags. What else do I need to say? The film received a decent follow up with 1991's The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear but ended on a sour note with 1994's Naked Gun 33+¹⁄₃: The Final Insult. The original cop show parody is comedy gold though, retroactive awkwardness of OJ Simpson notwithstanding.

#3 Top Secret! (1984)

It's like we're on some weird list ranking 80s parody movies

Plot: American rock star Nick Rivers travels to East Germany to perform at a cultural show and gets involved with the local resistance movement.

Review: Like I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, this parody of Elvis Presley musicals and Cold War spy films does not get talked about enough and deserves a lot more attention. Don't blink or you will miss some ridiculous verbal or visual gag, including of the running gag variety. I watched this movie when I was very young, but it remained with me to this day. I can still quote several parts and it may be partly responsible for my pun-infested sense of humour. Maybe.

And maybe its lack of star power (it was the debut role for future star Val Kilmer) or poor timing (fellow parody flick Airplane II: The Sequel was a commercial disappointment two years earlier) resulted in it being a box office bomb. But it is still a relentlessly funny movie that will be a delight for parody film lovers. Latrine!

#2 Spaceballs (1987)

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Plot: Mercenary Lone Starr and his "Mawg" (half man, half dog) companion Barf are recruited to rescue Princess Vespa from the evil Spaceballs led by President Skroob and Dark Helmet.

Review: It's a pitch perfect Star Wars spoof from the master of spoofs Mel Brooks. If you haven't seen it yet, what have you even doing with your life? Or if you've seen it a dozen times (like me) go and rewatch it again. It is still spit-out-your juice funny. And may the Schwartz be with you.

#1 Airplane! (1980)

Dang dude. I just mopped this floor

Plot: When a commercial airplane's pilots get food poisoning ex-fighter pilot Ted Striker must overcome his anxiety to land the plane safely.

Review: Absolutely no one should be surprised that the greatest parody film of all time is number one on a 1980s parody film list. For the few people who have not seen it (and you all should fix that immediately, if not sooner) then just know that this disaster comedy is a treasure trove of timeless absurdity that has been stockpiling its overflowing vault of laughs for more than four decades. You may be thinking, "Surely, you can't be serious." Well, I am serious. And stop calling me Shirley.

So that's my ranking. Which of these is your favourite? And you can check out more 80s comedy movie articles from Robot Mango Reviews below:

Julien "Editor Jules" Neaves is a TARDIS-flying, Force-using Trekkie whose bedroom stories were by the Cryptkeeper, learned to be a superhero from Marvel, but dreams of being Batman. I love promoting Caribbean film (Cariwood), creating board games and I am an aspiring author. I say things like "13 flavours of awesome sauce". Read more.