Airplane (1980)
Disaster Movies Never Had It So Absurd
When ex-fighter pilot Ted Striker (Robert Hays) boards a trans-continental flight to try and win back his former girlfriend, Elaine (Julie Hagerty), disaster looms but not the sort Hollywood’s used to. After a case of food poisoning takes out the pilots and crew, the fate of the passengers falls into Striker’s panic-ridden, PTSD-scarred hands. With guidance from ground control, a dummy autopilot named “Otto,” and an ensemble cast of straight-faced stars delivering the most ridiculous lines possible, Airplane! pushes every joke, gag, and pun to the limit. It’s a parody where seriousness is the punchline and it’s hard not to laugh when Captain Oveur asks a boy, “Have you ever been in a Turkish prison?”
Written and directed by Jim Abrahams and brothers David and Jerry Zucker, Airplane! rapidly became one of the funniest (and most quotable) comedies ever made. It skewers disaster movie tropes using slapstick, verbal absurdity, visual sight gags, and timing that’s practically manic. Its cast of actors typically known for drama (Leslie Nielsen, Peter Graves, Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack) plays everything dead serious, which makes every over-the-top moment land harder. Though some humor is edgy, the quick pace and outlandish setups turned this film into a must-watch for fans of parody, clever foolishness, or just needing a movie that doesn’t let up.
Buy it Now
Genre: Comedy
Director: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker & Jerry Zucker
Rated: PG
