The spoof comedy that set the gold standard for all that followed it, AIRPLANE takes shots at the slew of disaster movies that peppered cinemas in the 70s. When the passengers and crew of a jet are incapacitated due to food poisoning, a rogue pilot (who has a drinking problem and is afraid of flying) must cooperate with his ex-girlfriend turned stewardess to bring the plane to a safe landing. No disaster flick cliche is left unroasted, and the musical score itself takes a less than reverent look at overly melodramatic compositions.
This is the first, and still the best, of Zucker, Zucker and Abrahams's wonderful movie send-ups. There's hardly a second that passes without an assault by a wickedly accurate spoof, cringe-inducing pun or inspired sight gag, and the years have not diminished its dumb appeal. Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty are the nominal stars, but the most fun is had by the distinguished supporting cast. It's the film that made a comedy star out of Leslie (“don't call me Shirley”) Nielsen, but a whole troupe of veteran character actors — Peter Graves, Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges — also have a hugely enjoyable time sending up their screen personae. And, best of all, it drove a large nail into the coffin of what was becoming a very tired Hollywood institution, the Airport series.
Entertainment Weekly
"...Nonstop comic invention made AIRPLANE! one of the funniest...comedies of our time..." -- Rating: A
New York Times
Included in the New York Times "10 BEST FILMS OF 1980"
Radio Times
