Alright, fellow tapeheads, let's rewind to a time when Sherwood Forest got a whole lot sillier. Remember 1993? Grunge was king, the internet was barely a dial-up whisper, and just two years after Kevin Costner gave us his brooding, accent-challenged take on England's greatest archer, comedy legend Mel Brooks decided the whole affair needed a serious dose of absurdity. The result? Robin Hood: Men in Tights, a film that landed on video store shelves like a perfectly aimed (and utterly ridiculous) arrow. Popping this tape into the VCR was practically a guarantee of low-brow chuckles and delightfully dumb gags.
### Aiming for Laughs, Hitting the Funny Bone (Mostly)
This wasn't Brooks's first foray into Sherwood; his short-lived 70s TV series When Things Were Rotten tread similar ground. But Men in Tights felt different, laser-focused on skewering the earnestness (and let's be honest, the occasional self-importance) of its immediate predecessor, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991). Brooks, along with co-writers Evan Chandler and J. David Shapiro, loaded his quiver with puns, fourth-wall breaks, sight gags, and anachronisms, firing them off with the rapid-fire energy that defined his later work. Does every arrow hit the bullseye? Maybe not, but the sheer volume ensures plenty of comedic impact.
Leading the charge is Cary Elwes as Robin Hood, and wasn't he the perfect choice? Fresh off the immortal The Princess Bride (1987), Elwes effortlessly channels that same suave, slightly-aware-he's-in-a-movie charm. Brooks reportedly cast him specifically because of Westley, wanting that blend of heroic looks and comedic timing. Elwes nails the confident swagger, the knowing winks to the camera ("Unlike some other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent!"), and the willingness to look utterly foolish, whether leading a boy band-esque musical number or engaging in sword fights choreographed more for slapstick than swashbuckling.
### A Castle Full of Characters
Surrounding Elwes is a cast clearly having a blast. Roger Rees steals scene after scene as the Sheriff of Rottingham, his performance a masterclass in villainous preening and mangled pronunciation ("King illegal!"). His rivalry with Robin fuels some of the film's best comedic set pieces. Then there's Richard Lewis as the perpetually kvetching Prince John, bringing his signature neurotic stand-up energy to medieval England. His obsession with his ever-shifting mole is a running gag that somehow never gets old – a testament to Lewis’s delivery. And let's not forget a young Dave Chappelle in his feature film debut as Ahchoo, son of Asneeze (played by Isaac Hayes!), landing lines that hinted at the massive comedic talent to come. Even Patrick Stewart, fresh off the Star Trek: The Next Generation bridge, pops up for a glorious cameo as King Richard. Apparently, Sir Patrick did the role for union scale simply because he was a huge Mel Brooks fan – a fun retro fact that shows the director's pull!
### Parody Over Practical Prowess
Now, we usually talk about gritty practical effects here at VHS Heaven – the real fireballs, the death-defying stunt falls. Men in Tights offers... well, the parody of that. The "action" is deliberately goofy. Sword fights involve baguettes, guards are taken out by conveniently placed statues, and the big dramatic moments are undercut by blatant silliness. Remember Robin leaping heroically onto a castle wall, only to crash straight through the flimsy set? That’s the vibe. The "practical effects" here are the perfectly timed pratfalls, the exaggerated sound cues, and the sheer commitment to the gag. It’s less about making you believe the danger and more about making you laugh at the idea of action movie tropes. Brooks wasn't trying to replicate the visceral thrill of watching Arnold Schwarzenegger unload a minigun; he was holding up a funhouse mirror to cinematic heroism itself.
The film operates on its own logic, where characters acknowledge the script, the camera crew, and even the audience. This meta-humor, a Brooks staple seen in classics like Blazing Saddles (1974) and Spaceballs (1987), feels right at home here. It’s part of the charm – you’re in on the joke from frame one. The musical numbers, like the titular "Men in Tights" song or Marian's (the game Amy Yasbeck) power ballad complete with backup singers appearing from nowhere, are pure, unadulterated Brooksian silliness.
### Legacy of Laughter
Upon release, Robin Hood: Men in Tights received the kind of critical reception often afforded later Mel Brooks films – mixed. Some found it less sharp than his 70s masterpieces, relying perhaps a bit too heavily on easy targets and recycled gags. It performed modestly at the box office, pulling in around $35 million domestically on a $20 million budget. But oh, did it find its audience on VHS! For kids and teens (and maybe more than a few adults) in the 90s, this tape was comedy gold. It was endlessly quotable, cheerfully stupid, and just plain fun. It cemented Cary Elwes as a comedy favourite and gave us early Dave Chappelle. It might not be the pinnacle of satire, but its affectionate ribbing of a well-worn legend hit the spot.
Rating: 7/10
Why a 7? Because while it might lack the biting satirical edge of Blazing Saddles or the sublime spoofing of Young Frankenstein (1974), Men in Tights delivers exactly what it promises: a relentlessly goofy, gag-filled parody delivered with infectious energy by a cast fully committed to the silliness. It successfully skewers its target (Prince of Thieves) and provides consistent laughs, even if some jokes feel broader or more juvenile than others. It’s a perfect example of 90s studio comedy, elevated by Brooks's unique touch and a cast firing on all comedic cylinders.
Final Thought: It’s the cinematic equivalent of finding that worn-out VHS copy at the back of the closet – maybe not high art, but guaranteed to make you grin like an idiot, remembering a time when legendary heroes wore tights... and weren't afraid to look utterly ridiculous doing it. Still good for a laugh-filled rewatch? Absolutely.