Some quality-ish Mel Brooks comedy. The verbal puns and gags are aplenty, for sure. So many skits, from 20 million years ago to the French Revolution. Mel has fun romping through history via a modern lens and mixing current-ish references within the old frameworks, taking some liberties as to how things just might have played out.
From caveman times, the dawn of man. Orson Wells narrates with the deepest of conviction and sincerity as we watch some silly scenarios over the course of time play out. Rome is so classy. The Last Supper is a fun take. And those Frenchies. Oh, so adorable with their funny accents and dead rats! And King Louis does have the good sense to have some midgets in his employ. So inclusive, even back then!
Yeah, there’s some funny stuff here. A bit of the kitchen sink approach, you throw it all up there and see what sticks. Some do, the rest is mildly amusing. A bit of a throwback to the old-school production and musical extravaganzas with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Can’t fault Mel’s enthusiasm, it definitely has its charm. Great turns by Gregory Hines, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman and even Dom DeLuise gets a few good ones in as Cesar. And some interesting history lessons as it plays out. Who knew the Spanish Inquisition was so much FUN! Oh, good times, history. Good torturing and guillotiney times!