The 1980 film “Airplane!” is lauded as an all-time great in the genre of comedy. As a first time viewer forty-one years after its release, I have mixed thoughts.
The film has an ensemble type cast with Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty sharing the lead. Also featured are veteran actors Peter Graves, Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack, and the legendary Leslie Nielsen. Basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar makes an appearance as well.
The plot is outlandish at best but that’s what one expects from the onset. The setting is on board a flight from Los Angeles to Chicago in which anything and everything whacky can and does occur. Explaining it is a waste of time so I won’t even try. Think Monty Python in the sky.
I found the jokes either completely off putting or laugh out loud hysterical, with an even mix of the two. If you consider yourself “woke” you’ll want to skip this one. The jokes and the era with which they come aren’t concerned with being politically correct.
The cast is great and each carries their own with funny lines or repetitive gags. I went in believing Leslie Nielsen to be the star, and was surprised to discover his character doesn’t appear until halfway through. Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty are a fun pair to watch together on screen as they pretend to have a romantic connection amidst a sea of crude jokes. I recognized Lloyd Bridges from his role on ‘Seinfeld’ and Robert Stack as the grim voice behind ‘Unsolved Mysteries.’ It was enjoyable to witness these long gone actors in their prime.
“Airplane!” What can I say? I’m glad I finally watched it. It’s a funny movie and I get why it’s so appreciated to this day. You’ll hate yourself for being amused by it. After watching I still haven’t decided if I hate it or it’s in my Top 10.
