I'd seen bits and pieces of this movie on TV forever, but I confess, I'd never sat and watched the whole thing through until last night.
Turner Classic Movies played it last night, no commercials. That's the way to see movies.
I'd always caught bits of really dumb jokes, bits and pieces of moronity. This didn't give me a good impression of the movie.
It IS a lot of dumb jokes, but when you sit all the way through it, it is pretty incredible. The story hangs together so well, and all of the jokes actually help the plot go forward.
Funny movie.
Article comments
1 - TDavid
This is a DVD worth adding to one's collection, just because it was the inspiration for future movies of its ilk like Naked Gun
2 - cjones
The two girl scouts fighting in the bar has got to go down as one of the funniest fight scenes in cinematic history.
3 - Chris
Even better - TCM played the movie that inspired Airplane! right after showing Airplane. It was funny, but probably not meant to be.
I was impressed they left the "when the shit hits the fan" scene in.
4 - TDavid
The scene with the lady that was screaming hysterically being shut up was pretty funny as well.
And then there was Kareem Abdul Jabbar. He starred in one of Bruce Lee's final films and also Airplane. Nice on his resume, as atheletes and Hollywood don't usually mix well (Bosworth anybody?)
Airplane is one of the few non-animated films which rivals The Simpsons with jokes per scene.