| Winner of an astounding, yet not | | | | haunting war memories and fear of flying |
| unprecedented zero Academy Awards, Airplane | | | | foreshadow a great disaster. With the help of |
| is arguably one of the funniest movies ever | | | | Elaine, Dr. Rumack (Leslie Nielsen), and Otto |
| made. Long before The Naked Gun, Jim | | | | The Inflatable Pilot, Ted faces his fears and |
| Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker | | | | attempts to bring the plane in for a safe |
| teamed up to write this outrageous comedy hit | | | | landing. Helping him from the ground are |
| which spoofs the airline disaster movies | | | | Steven McCrosky (Lloyd Bridges) and Capt. Rex |
| prevalent throughout the 1970's. Starring a | | | | Kramer (Robert Stack), a military man |
| diverse cast with a wide range of experience | | | | intimately familiar with the abilities of Ted |
| from Hollywood, Broadway, and the NBA, | | | | Striker. |
| Airplane follows the exploits of a number of | | | | |
| characters such as Ted Striker (Robert Hays), | | | | Interspersed throughout Airplane are an |
| Roger Murdock (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), and Otto | | | | endless number of one-liners, oddities, |
| The Inflatable Pilot (as himself), all of | | | | wordplay dialogue, and crazy antics. This is |
| whom will keep you laughing in the aisles for | | | | one movie you might have to watch several |
| one hour plus. | | | | times before you catch every great line, |
| | | | because the humor saturates every scene. You |
| When ex-fighter pilot Ted Striker is released | | | | won't find a single dull moment in Airplane. |
| from the hospital following the mental strain | | | | In fact, you might even learn a few disco |
| of his war experience, he decides to seek out | | | | moves from Ted and Elaine, not to mention |
| and reconnect with the love of his life, | | | | Capt. Oveur and his co-pilot Roger! |
| Elaine Dickinson (Julie Hagerty), a woman who | | | | |
| broke off their relationship due to Striker's | | | | With a truly impressive cast for a spoof, |
| various problems (among which is a "drinking | | | | cult comedy classic (Robert Stack, Lloyd |
| problem," that is, Striker's inability to | | | | Bridges, and Leslie Nielsen among others), |
| pour liquid into his mouth!) Now an airline | | | | Airplane will forever remain among the |
| stewardess, Elaine is emphatic in her | | | | hallowed elite of the best comedy films ever |
| assertion that she will never get back | | | | produced. Unlike most modern-era comedies, |
| together with Ted. Unwilling to take no for | | | | which tend to reflect many of the trends and |
| an answer, and certain he can prove he's | | | | fads of the day, Airplane seems to gain new |
| overcome the problems of his past, Ted | | | | altitude with each generation to which it's |
| follows Elaine on her flight. | | | | introduced. Like Johnny Carson, its wit and |
| | | | humor transcends every level of American |
| All goes well until several passengers get | | | | life, making for an enjoyable and laughable |
| sick. Victims of spoiled food, almost | | | | movie watching experience. As a result, |
| everyone on the plane stands on the brink of | | | | Airplane is a no-brainer in the category of |
| death as the pilots themselves pass out. One | | | | must-see films. If you haven't seen it (hard |
| of the few who is not ill, Ted is called upon | | | | to believe), then I highly recommend renting |
| to land the plane in their absence. But his | | | | it immediately. |