Robin Hood: Men in Tights is one of the many famed movies created by Mel Brooks. The 1993 movie combined cultural references, spoof comedy, and a musical adventure into a one-hit cult classic movie. Some time has passed since its debut but it still holds up for making audiences laugh.
Robin of Loxley (Cary Elwes) goes on an adventure to stop the corrupted use of power by Prince John (Richard Lewis). The movie is riddled with comedic jokes, hit actors, and some underlying stories that still make it relevant today. Die-hard movie fans won't have a hard time relating to the storyline as it spoofs some major franchises.
The Hit Song and Musical Element
The movie has a couple of musical numbers that made fans chuckle. The most famous one is the theme song for the Merry Men. After Little John (Eric Allan Kramer) uses the latrine, he asks his friend if the seams on his tights are aligned. They then break into a song where the other Merry Men join.
The song can easily get stuck in any viewer's mind. It talks bout being men of honor and giving back was taken from the poor. At the same time, the song makes a small joke about people assuming they're sissies for wearing tights. They describe themselves as, "men in tights, tight tights." They even poke fun and do a Rockettes dance line.
The Villains Aren't All That Evil
Seeing as the movie is a comedy, the villains involved aren't so bad and mighty. Their inability to really be evil allows for a much more enjoyable movie to watch even years later. Sheriff of Rottingham (Roger Rees) and Prince John have abused the power of the throne while the king is away.
Prince John and Rottingham are not meant to be feared. Prince John is a bit of a dim wit and cowardly while Rottingham is no better. He constantly mixes up his words when flustered. By the end of the movie, they get their due diligence when all the latrines in England are now called 'Johns.' Rottingham becomes the lover of Latrine (Tracey Ullman), the less than desirable cook.
It's Still A Recognizable Robin Hood Story
The story of Robin Hood has been remade countless times on the big screen. There have been takes from Disney's animated version to a portrayal done by Taron Edgerton. The movie mimics certain scenarios and scenes from Disney's version and the one with Kevin Costner. Mel Brooks's version still keeps to the classic story with some tweaks here and there.
Robin of Loxley is of noble birth but learns that the Sheriff of Rottingham and the Prince have abused the power given by the throne while the King is away. On a mission to restore his family's honor and return to the poor what's rightfully theirs, he becomes a type of vigilante for justice.
The Spoof About Social & Pop Culture
What makes the movie so enjoyable for fans to watch years later is the parody of pop culture, puns, and cultural references. Viewers today might not understand all of them, but a majority are still well known. When Robin meets Ahchoo (Dave Chappelle), he's getting beat up by the Sheriff's men.
Ahchoo makes a joke that it's 'time to get pumped' and bends over to add more air into his Reebok Pump sneakers. The movie also makes references to Larry King, includes a spoof of the Hollywood sign, and mimics Malcolm X's famed speech. Ahchoo even makes a joke about Mel Brooks's other movie, Blazing Saddles.
The Timeless Love Story
Everyone admires a good love story, even in a comedy movie. Robin Hood: Men in Tights has a timeless love story that still appeals to the masses. Robin falls head over heels when he sets his eyes on Maid Marian (Amy Yasbeck) at the spring banquet. He even calls it 'love at first sight.'
Robin and Marian's love story is still heartwarming to watch on screen as well as comical. One of the reasons Maid Marian is so smitten with Robin is because she thinks he has the answer to removing her chastity belt.
The Comedy
One of the reasons audiences will have fun watching the movie is its constant jokes and spoofs. Fans can't help but chuckle when Blinkin (Mark Blankfield) is unaware that the castle was taken away as he sits on the latrine with a blind man's version of Playboy. There's also the small joke that Prince John's mole keeps moving whenever he's introduced in a scene.
Fans also can't forget when Little John is guarding the bridge to a two-inch-wide river and has Robin fight him instead of paying the toll. It only gets funnier when Little John is 'drowning' in the river. Mel Brooks makes his appearance as a rabbi selling circumcisions and the Merry Men want one until they realize what it really is. The jokes are everywhere.
The Array Of Actors
The film has quite an array of actors that are still well known. Cary Elwes is more notoriously known for his romantic role as Westley in the 1987 movie, The Princess Bride. This also stars comedian and actor Richard Lewis and famed actor Roger Rees.
Co-starring alongside Cary Elwes is the comedian Dave Chappelle. Chappelle rose to notoriety as a comedian on Comedy Central and in his own satirical sketch series, Chappelle's Show. Fans will also get a fun surprise by the end of the movie when King Richard makes his appearance. The King was played by Start Trek and X-Men actor, Patrick Stewart.
The Godfather Reference
There's one thing that the movie did impeccably well that will have any generation of fans laughing their heads off. When Rottingham wants to get rid of Robin, he hires the Mafioso Don Giovanni (Dom DeLuise). The entire scene is making fun of The Godfather and its main characters. The scene even includes a comical line of Don Giovanni making it all the way from Jersey.
The scene mimics a lot of elements the mafia movie is known for. Rottingham can't understand Don Giovanni and Don Giovanni apologizes. He had just gone to the dentist and forgot to take out the cotton balls from his mouth. The movie also references another Marlon Brando movie, On the Waterfront. Don Giovanni even says one of the famous lines, "I coulda been a contender."
The 4th Wall Break
The fourth wall break is a common tactic used in many movies, especially in parodies and comedies. The use of the tactic allows Robin Hood: Men in Tights to still be relevant today. When Maid Marien is bathing, a cameraman accidentally breaks through her window, while Robin Hood also spears the donut of a nearby crew member.
The best example of the fourth wall break is when Robin loses at an archery tournament. So baffled that he lost, Robin whips out his script. The script says he gets one more shot. The other characters don't believe him and take out their own scripts to verify.
The Comical Ending
The ending is neither happily ever after nor a bad one. Instead, the movie ends on a comical note with no real resolution. Robin and Maid Marian are married, meaning Maid Marian's chastity belt can be removed. In a scene prior, Robin discovers that the box given to him by his father holds the key to 'the greatest treasure in the land.'
The key is supposedly meant to fit in the lock of the chastity belt. As Robin and his new bride are ready to get it on, the key doesn't work. Audiences can't help but laugh at the circumstances and all the trouble leading up to it. Robin's final line is, "Call a locksmith!"