I don't know how many times I have watched this movie. It is just incredible! I know every line. It has a unique place in comic movie history and demonstrates the genius of Mel Brooks. It lifts the lowest of spirits. Wonderful, funny, beautifully scripted and timeless extravaganza. Watch it and enjoy.

Just simply stop watch Star Wars and master the Shurts

"I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate". "What does that make us?" "Nothing. Which is exactly what you're about to become"This is from the climactic fight scene between Dark Helmet and Lone Starr, echoing the iconic confrontation between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in "The Empire Strikes Back": also this is a joke viewers could see coming from a mile, but I'll use it to point out the main problem with "Spaceballs". Basically, the film is saying "I'm the official parody of the "Star Wars" saga". What does that make it? Well, not nothing, but not anything more than being the… official parody of the "Star Wars" saga.That's how we all remember "Spaceballs" and there are worse reputations, but it's very revealing when the funniest gags have nothing to do with "Star Wars". Take that hilarious moment when Helmet's right-hand man uses a VHS of the film to spot where the good guys are, they pause the film at the present time so that we see on the TV what happens in real time during the movie. It's just the most vertiginous and dizzying 'mise en abime' process ever used in a film, and the funniest too with a dialogue using the word 'now' like the famous 'Who's on first?' routine. It's for moments like these that "Spaceballs" should be appreciated. It's a shame that there are more smile-inducing little gags than creative hilarious bits like this. And I feel almost guilty to write that, because I used to love the film. Well, in fact, my history with "Spaceballs" was is in three acts.Act One: I'm eight, I discover the film on a Saturday afternoon, I can't stop laughing at Dark Helmet's antics and I really, really enjoy the film. My cinematic knowledge wasn't as extended as today, for what it's worth, and I don't even think I was familiar with the original "Star Wars", because when the real film was aired a few weeks later, I thought it was actually copying "Spaceballs", in an uglier way. Yup, "Spaceballs" introduced me to the "Star Wars" saga. And it was one of my favorite comedies. Act Two: I'm sixteen. I'm a comic-book nerd, I love Tex Avery cartoons and I adore parodies. I'm discovering the Zucker Abrahams Zucker movies and I'm looking for "Spaceballs". There was no Internet, no way for me to remember the title, so it's only by pure luck that I find the VHS in the video store. I finally discover Mel Brooks (although I was familiar with many of his films). I see the film with excitement, alone, in a dark room, expecting to have a Madeleine Proust sensation. I find the film enjoyable, amusing with some funny parts I didn't even get as kid, notably the Virginity alarm and the Valium yawning Prince. I realize this was John Candy as Barf, that Melrose Place girl (Daphne Zuniga) as Princess Vespa, Rick Moranis from "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" and good old President Bill Pullmann as Lone Starr. Overall, the rediscovery adds to the enjoyment.Act Three: I'm thirty-four. I watch the film. I like it, but the pleasure relies more on the nostalgic effect. The film is as much about the 80's as "Star Wars" actually, no CGI, good old miniatures, even though a little cheap-looking. Of course, some parts have aged better, most of the good stuff involves Dark Helmet and his crew. But overall, you get some amusing jokes, that are so innocent and fun you don't feel like criticizing them. So, what exactly lacks in the film? I don't know, it's droll and funny but it has the appeal of TV sketches and never really tries to transcend its material, the film only exists for the sole mission of making as many references as possible to "Star Wars" and the Sci-fi genre.This is typical of Mel Brooks, either he tries to make a unique original film and you get "The Producers", "Young Frankenstein" or "Silent Movie" or it's a matter of parodying classics by the book and you get "Blazing Saddles", "High Anxiety" and "Spaceballs", funny movies that work because they know what they should remind you of, all the time. This is the problem with "Spaceballs", once you know "Star Wars", apart from a few original bits like Pizza the Hutt or the 'One Froggy Evening' homage, it's routine humor that makes you want to go directly on Youtube and check the best parts rather than see the whole film. The film has this biting Brooksian humor with the character of Yogurt whose main occupation is to work on the merchandising but that bit had already been used in the 'now' scene. And I guess Brooks might have sinned by being too confident that his film would be a sure hit and overestimated people's interest for "Star Wars" four years after the final opus. But this obsession for parody made the director lose his way, and the disastrous "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" proved that he was already slipping and the popularity of "Spaceballs" had more to do with the actors' performances, Moranis, Candy, and even Brooks himself as Yogurt and President Skroob. There was some potential for satire in this film, but it's so busy retelling the "Star Wars" story that it loses its time on cute gags, and some supposed to sound funny but, for some reason, don't really make you laugh. All right, "may the Schwartz be with you". Ha-ha.The saddest thing is that the parody genre stil had brighter days to come. One year later, ZAZ brothers' "Naked Gun" would make the box-office Top 10, and you know why it worked? Because it copied a genre, archetypes and situations, but not a specific target, so it could stand alone as a movie, and a classic. Sadly, "Spaceballs" comes across as a SNL sketch of epic proportions.

SPACEBALLS was a childhood favourite of mine and I'm pleased to see that it still holds up today for audiences. It's a loving spoof of the whole STAR WARS franchise with Mel Brooks on top form as he mercilessly ribs George Lucas for his addition to merchandising, ridiculous costumes, plot elements, and the like. That SPACEBALLS also tells its own entertaining story that holds up as a stand-alone adventure is testament to its effectiveness. Strong production values and fun effects only add to the experience.The cast is a superior one with the highlights including Joan Rivers as 'Dot Matrix' and the lovably goofy John Candy playing a half-man, half-dog. Rick Moranis really shines though in his best role as 'Dark Helmet' and many of his scenes are the funniest the film has to offer; also watch out for Mel Brooks's scene-stealing 'Yogurt'. The laughs come thick and fast and not all of them are funny, but when the film hits it really hits; the scenes involving instant video cassettes and breaking the fourth wall are the funniest. My overall highlight though has to be John Hurt's cameo, which is the icing on an already splendid cake.