 | Spaceballs is a parody of Lucas' first Star Wars trilogy on the surface. The characters make this fact obvious -- especially Rick Moranis as the arrogant, puling brat Dark Helmet. However, having grown up on this film I think it's reasonable to say that Spaceballs is a bit more than a parody. Brooks makes it clear who the villains are, but also endows his heroes with charming qualities. Lone Starr and his sidekick Puke (sorry, it's Barf) are selfish men who demand a high price when pressed into service: a million dollars so that they can pay off their debt to gangster Pizza the Hutt. But when Pizza kicks the bucket, the victorious Lone Starr refuses to take the whole million, but insists on only taking enough for lunch, gas, and tolls. Sci-fi jokes abound in Spaceballs, from President Skroob getting beamed into the room just outside his office (and having his head on backward as a result!), to the arrival of humans on the Planet of the Apes (Oh shit. There goes the planet.) Brooks even includes a lesson on dealing with authority: when ordered to comb the desert, don't take the order literally. |
