Hot Shots! (1991)
The gang that created Airplane and The Naked Gun sets its sights on Top Gun in this often hilarious spoof starring Charlie Sheen, who previously only inspired laughs with his personal life. He plays Topper Harley, a fighter pilot with an ax to grind: clearing the family name. He gets involved in a relationship with Valerie Golino, a woman with an unusually talented stomach. But his mission is to avenge his father. Lloyd Bridges, late in his career, revealed an aptitude for this kind of silliness, here as a commander who is both incredibly dim and delightfully accident prone. Directed by Jim Abrahams, the film makes fun of a variety of other films as well, from Dances with Wolves to The Fabulous Baker Boys. It was so successful that they all returned in the sequel, Hot Shots! Part Deux.
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I don't dislike it, but it's not watchable more than once. It was pretty funny, in a slapstick kind of way. I've never seen more ejections from a fighter aircraft though and one scene 'in the air' on this movie was just way too unbelievable. I'd agree with the other reviewer that it does come close to 'Airplane', even though I have yet to see that movie. I just believe I know that movie is going to be quite similar to this one and I can't wait to see it some day. However, if I'm going to watch a comedy, I prefer humor like John Candy, Steve Martin, some of Steve Carell's less serious roles, Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson. I can't think of any other funnier people right now, so if you want to add to this, go ahead and reply because I'm also open to knowing who the heck else is funny in movies these days or from way, way back in the days. I'd love to hear from you.
After finishing up a gig on the Space Shuttle in Houston, I called Billy (Aerial Unit) and he says "We can use a guy your size, come on out!". So I was an extra: A Carrier Deck Hand, Iraqi Soldier, they guy who holds up the weight sign to the pilot, etc. Then one day Matthew the 2nd AD is looking for Charlie to set up a scene and says "Go tell Wardrobe to put you in Charlie's dress white's and get out here, we gotta set up this scene and Charlie's shooting another scene right now". So I did, and then became his Stand-In from there.Got to meet some of the great actors like Lloyd Bridges & Ephraim Zimbalist Jr. before they both passed on, Charlie Sheen (of course) and John Cryer. I picked John up in my old yellow Cadillac Sedan one day while he was walking across the set in the rain. Told him to sit in the back "Limo" style! All were very nice to me, and very humble.Back at Bill's (Badalato - EXP) house while he is cooking pasta for me and his son Billy (Aerial) I look on the table and there is a small leather bound photo album with the smallest gold letters that say "Top Gun". I look through it and there are all these Polaroids of the cast and crew in goofy poses on the set of Top Gun. Nothing big, nothing fancy, just your "typical" photo album sitting on the coffee table! Such great and humble Men and Women, from Bill, Billy, Doc, Richard, Lloyd, Charlie, John, Christie and Valeria et al. In fact, Billy had me shoot a spoof of Bill's (nonexistent) "Ego" where the cast all played along in the video. Went to Lloyd Bridges home and shot a very dramatic clip of Lloyd talking about Bill and his devotion to family (meaning also his "Film Family"). Charlie joked (in his clip) that Bill was so uptight and difficult to work with and that Bill (who is bald) had "hair" at the start of the picture! All great people! And I got to flirt with Valeria while we were eating a couple of times since I spoke a little Italian :-) Phil Bautista, Austin TX
This film is one of the better spoofs that are out there. It is not like the spoofs that came out in recent years such as epic movie, meet the spartans, or vampires suck. those films are just vulgar garbage. This one is above that. it isn't as good as airplane but it is still a worthy spoof. It fulfills its purpose in making audiences laugh. Lloyd Bridges had one of the funniest characters. His character in this film is almost as funny as his character in the two airplane movies. Yes, spoofs aren't really good movies. they were designed for the purpose of being funny. if you are looking for a funny comedy to watch than i recommend this.
In the line of Airplane, Naked Gun and the Files of the Police Squad, Hot Shots is one of those films that you can watch again and again and see extra jokes that you hadn't noticed before. There are great "set piece" jokes but also the humour that comes from knowing the in-joke and in this film that is mainly at the expense of Top Gun.Charlie Sheen sizzles in this film, and is at his comedic best, and John Cryer (also of Two and Half Men fame) is very good, but it is Lloyd Bridges that steals the show in every scene he's in. Love this film, I've seen it so many times but still giggle at all the silliness, and am still seeing new things. It's a nineties classic comedy. The fridge contents bedroom scene is one of the funniest pieces of film ever.Enjoyable, fun, funny and brilliantly clever, though of course not original as it's more or less one long spoof. Never mind though!