Airplane! ★★★½ 1980 (PG) Classic lampoon of disaster flicks is stupid but funny and launched a bevy wanna-be spoofs. Former pilot Ted Striker (Hays), who's lost both his stewardess girlfriend Elaine (Hagerty) and his nerve, takes over the controls of a jet when the crew is hit with food poisoning. The passengers become increasingly crazed and ground support more surreal as our hero struggles to land the plane. Clever, fast-paced, and very funny parody mangles every Hollywood cliche within reach. The gags are so furiously paced that when one bombs it's hardly noticeable. Launched Nielsen's second career as a comic actor. And it ain't over till it's over: don't miss the amusing final credits. Followed by "Airplane 2: The Sequel." 88m/C VHS, DVD, 8mm, Wide. Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Robert Stack, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Leslie Nielsen, Stephen Stucker, Ethel Merman, Barbara Billingsley, Lorna Patterson, Joyce Bulifant, James Hong, Maureen McGovern, Jimmie Walker;
Director:
Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker;
Writer:
Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker;
Writer:
Joseph Biroc;
Cameo:
Elmer Bernstein. Writers Guild '80: Adapt. Screenplay.
