Of all the countless iterations of the legend of Robin Hood, one reigns supreme – Mel Brooks’Robin Hood: Men in Tights. This Robin Hood story may not be the first the comes to mind out of the many movies the timeless legend has inspired over the years. There’sRidley Scott’s take on the legend, which reunited him with hisGladiatorstarRussell Crowe. There’s thecampyRobin Hood: Prince of Thieves.There’s the 2018 effort fromOtto Bathurst,which is…better left undiscussed. And of course, there’s the animated Disney film, which reinterpreted the famous archer and his allies as animals. Mel Brooks' version, though, stands heads and shoulders above the rest, providing the most compelling on-screen version of the story – an irony becauseRobin Hood: Men in Tightsis a parody.
Robin Hood: Men in Tightsstarts out like any other Robin Hood film: Robin of Loxley (Cary Elwes) is captured while fighting in the Crusades and finally returns home to learn that Prince John (Richard Lewis) is oppressing the people alongside the corrupt Sherriff of Nottingham (Roger Rees). Robin then assembles a band of merry men to take back Nottingham, all the while rekindling things with his old flame Maid Marian (Amy Yasbeck). Sounds simple enough, right? WhereMen in Tightsdiffers is in the approach it takes to the material.
Mel Brooks Adapted the Robin Hood Legend in His Signature Style
By the time Mel Brooks wrote, directed, and producedRobin Hood: Men in Tights, he was well-known for his satirical takes on different film genres.Spaceballswas a successful send-up of popular space moviesincluding theStar Warsfranchise.Blazing Saddlesmocked the Western. And Brooks took shots at the world of horror not once, but twice withYoung FrankensteinandDracula: Dead and Loving It. That tradition continued withMen in Tights, right down to its opening sequence. Said sequence happens to feature a group of archers firing flaming arrows that form the opening credits…and the inhabitants of a village running for their lives. “Every time they make a Robin Hood movie, they burn our village down!” one exasperated villager groans.
The jokes don’t stop there. When the Sherriff challenges Robin to a duel, he slaps him with a glove in the usual tradition. Undaunted, Robin picks up a glove from a suit of armor and whacks the Sherriff right in the face with it. The training sequence with the Merry Men features them outright failing to hit archery targets or even a simple jousting dummy. And both the Sheriff and Robin fight for the affections of Marian - but are hampered by the chasity belt she wears, as well as her muscular maid Broomhilde (Megan Cavanagh) who insists she gets married before any hanky panky takes place. But the funniest moment has to be when Robin enters an archery tournament in disguise. He ends up losing, to the point where he actually has topull out the script to double-check the ending!
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‘Robin Hood: Men in Tights’ Shows Mel Brooks' Genuine Love For the Legend Genre
Even though it’s poking fun at the Robin Hood legend and its various tropes,Robin Hood:Men in Tights- much likeMel Brooks' other movies- showed that he had a genuine love for the legend genre. The romantic moments between Robin and Marian are a clear example of this: there’s a genuine sweetness to their dialogue, and Robin even breaks into a full on romantic serenade. Even some…suggestive shadow puppetry can’t ruin the moment. Brooks had employed a similar trick inSpaceballs, and it worked just as well there. It’s proof that great comedy doesn’t need to be mean spirited or dismissive of its roots - genuine love for a thing means you can actually give some comedic insight into it.
‘Robin Hood: Men in Tights’ Has an All-Star Cast
And what would a Mel Brooks movie be without an all star cast? In my opinion, Elwes is the perfect Robin Hood - equal parts dashing and heroic. That and he has some of the best comedic timing, especially in his facial expressions. Rees is all bluster as the Sherriff, and Lewis gets some choice lines in as Prince John. But what most people rememberRobin Hood:Men in Tightsfor is the film debut ofDave Chappelleas Ahchoo. Chappelle showed off his cutting sense of humor early on, including a visual gag involving pump up sneakers. And in a first for his films, Brooks only has a minor role as a traveling rabbi with a miniature guillotine. Three guess what it does.
For me, the best appearance comes from none other thanPatrick Stewarthimself as Prince Richard. Yes, Mel Brooks managed to get Patrick Stewart himself in a movie. And Stewart manages to lend quite a bit of gravitas to his sole scene in the film - even adding to the romantic overtures by marrying Robin and Marian. Though in true Brooks fashion, he claims the right of prima nocta and lays a kiss on Marian. This leads the Rabbi to quip, “It’s good to be the king,” in a great homage toHistory of the World, Part I. Even thirty years later,Robin Hood: Men In Tightsmanages to make me laugh and warms my heart.
Robin Hood: Men In Tightsis currently available to stream on HBO Max.
