The definition of 'deadpan' starts and ends with Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker's Airplane!.
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01/13/06
Airplane! (1980)
98
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:48
Fresh:47
Rotten:1
Average Rating:8.4/10
Runtime: 88 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: The spoof comedy that set the gold standard for all that followed it, AIRPLANE takes shots at the slew of disaster movies that peppered cinemas in the 70s. When the passengers and crew of a jet are... [More]
Starring: Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lloyd Bridges
Director: Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker
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Reviews for Airplane!
Is it the best comedy ever made? I don't know, but it surely is the funniest.I stand by that. And don't call me Shirley.
07/20/08
The fact that the movie doesn't work as well today as it did in 1980 in no way diminishes its importance in recent motion picture history.
04/01/08
Top CriticUnprecedented nonsense that--fashions aside--will remain timeless comedy cinema. [new DVD review]
12/19/05
Still the funniest and most inspired of the madcap genre spoofs. For every dumb or tasteless joke that doesn't fly, a dozen land directly at Laugh Central.
10/30/06
It is sophomoric, obvious, predictable, corny, and quite often very funny. And the reason it's funny is frequently because it's sophomoric, predictable, corny, etc.
12/06/05
Top CriticIt's now a familiar formula, but Airplane still retains an edge because the audience is credited with intelligence.
04/17/01
If Airplane! isn’t the funniest English-language movie ever made, it could at least get into some spirited comedy fisticuffs
09/16/05
Sustains a single premise for its entire running time, and does so without lagging or going limp.
12/05/05
The gags aren't exactly clever, but there are a lot of them, and the cutting finds a fast, effective tempo.
04/01/08
Top Criticgrabs you from the opening moments and doesn't let up for 90 minutes
02/27/01
If you get half of the jokes flung your way, and laugh at half of those you're still in much better shape than the very best episode of Three's Company.
12/08/02
Most of the jokes are groan-worthy, and some are downright racist.
09/22/08
Entering imto Mel Brooks' turf, the first lampoon of the disaster-in-the-air subgenre (such as the prepoterously Oscar nominated Airport) is silly but funny, with many good sight gags, campy one-liners and slapstick comedy.
03/15/09
Disaster parody at its finest, 'Airplane!' is a hilarious comic treat.
01/29/03
Airplane! is more than a pleasant surprise, in the midst of this dim movie season. As a remedy for the bloated self-importance of too many other current efforts, it's just what the doctor ordered.
05/20/03
Top CriticHow can you go wrong with a film that features Leave it to Beaver's Barbara Billingsly as a jive-talking passenger?
09/25/02
Some of the humor has become very politically incorrect 25-plus years later. And God love it for that.
02/20/06
It's all very reminiscent of Mad magazine, surely Abraham and the Zucker's inspiration.
01/01/00
Surely as good as modern comedy gets?…and don't call me Shirley.
04/01/08
Latest News for Airplane!
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April 14, 2006:
"Scary Movie 4": Anna Faris and Craig Bierko Do Funny
In recent weeks RT talked with the cast and director of "Scary Movie 4," including David "Airplane!" Zucker and Regina Hall. Read on for the... More...
April 12, 2006:
"Scary Movie 4": RT Talks With David Zucker
A few weekends ago RT got the inside scoop on "Scary Movie 4" from its director, legendary comic trailblazer David Zucker ("Airplane!," "The Naked... More...
February 01, 2006:
Trailer Bulletin: Scary Movie 4
Think there's still some juice to be squeezed out of the "Scary Movie" concept? Those Weinstein brothers sure do, which is why we'll see more of Anna Faris bopping... More...
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