The Spoof....or How To Tastefully Rip Off Another Movie.

The Spoof movie. It could be a hysterical tasty morsel that leaves you full and wanting more or it could be the worst meal ever that leaves you with heartburn not even Pepto Bismal could get rid of.  Here are a few of my favorite spoofs, and I promise they won't leave you with a bad taste in your mouth.

One of the best all time spoofs and probably my favorite is Airplane! This 1980 comedy mocks the disaster movies of the time. When you hear someone say, "I am serious and don't call me Shirely", you know exactly where it came from. It's a simple story. When the entire airplane ends up getting food poisoning, it's up to veteran pilot Ted Striker to bring the plane down safely. Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges and Leslie Nielson round out this rich comedic cast. If you like Gladiator movies, you will love this one (if you've seen the movie-you will totally understand).

Next on our  homage to fine cinema is Austin Powers (only the first one). Mike Myers pays tribute to the 1960's super spy films. Austin Powers is a spoof of movies like Our Man Flint which is a spoof of James Bond. Wow! A spoof of a spoof. Classic....Anyhoo. Myers plays a English secret agent that is brought back from deep freeze to bring down his evil nemesis Dr. Evil. Lots of tongue and cheek jokes makes this movie a fun romp in the park.

Last but not least and kind of a stretch, but I still love it so I'm gonna tell you about it anyway, is Mars Attacks! This film is a spoof on all those 1950's "B" science fiction Alien Invasion movies. Jack Nickolson in duel roles is amazing. He plays the President of the USA as well as a sleazy Las Vegas casino investor. Aliens land on Earth and much to our surprise they are hostile big brained boogers set on world domination. Who knew Slim Whitman could save the world?

Oh, the spoof. You make us laugh, you make us cry, you sometimes make us wonder why (your were ever made). There are so many ways you can play on the spoof-if you are lucky a smile will ensue, do it wrong and the world will never forgive you. Heed my warning young film makers, the spoof, she's a harsh mistress.