Big Picture Big Sound

The Film

When people think back on the cinematic adventures of Robin Hood, Russell Crowe won't even be a blip. There's Errol Flynn, Douglas Fairbanks, Kevin Costner, but none of those guys have generated as many laughs as Robin Hood: Men in Tights.

That said, this slapstick swashbuckler was made in the latter half of Mel Brooks' directorial career, which is a lot less impressive than the first half. There's no Madeline Kahn, no Cloris Leachman and no Harvey Korman. A few familiars faces from Brooks' past pop up, including Dom DeLuise, Dick Van Patten, and of course, Brooks himself.

The story sticks to Robin Hood 101, with Cary Elwes dusting off his Princess Bride persona to play our hero. From there, the movie is a sea of one-liners and famous faces, including

Richard Lewis, Amy Yasbeck, Patrick Stewart, Dave Chappelle, Roger Rees, and Tracey Ullman, among others.

Brooks only had one film after this one, the incredibly goofy Dracula: Dead and Loving It. It's no wonder he gave up his director's chair. Brooks is a classic, so we'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt. However, despite good comedic timing, a ton of good talent is mostly wasted here.

The Picture

Time is on the side of Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Because this is one of Brooks' later works, the 1:85:1 transfer looks very good. There's a little bit of grain and some of the scenes are dark, but many also pop. Outdoor scenery is most notewothy, with rich and bold colors. Also, fleshtones are spot on, whether dark or pasty white. Details are fair, but look best on close-ups, especially when gazing upon Amy Yasbeck's bold red curls.

The Sound

Like all Mel Brooks movies, the dialogue here is very important. However, this adventure offers a much more immersive experience than some of the director's other Blu-ray releases. A heavy soundtrack rings throughout, but other ambient sounds, such as waves lapping, background chatter, and horses galloping are present as well, giving the DTS-HD Master Audio track a good workout.

The Extras

Too bad Robin Hood couldn't rob the Fox vault to get a few more extras on this disc. There's a "LaserDisc" commentary and an HBO short. There's also a 14-minute feature on the making of the film. This is the one you want to check out, if for no other reason than seeing Dom Deluise do his part with a parrot on his shoulder.

Final Thoughts

Robin Hood: Men in Tights isn't Mel Brooks' best film. It's not even his fifth best. Still, a nice image and good sound make this a fairly decent romp in the forest. Robin Hood doesn't completely rob you of a good time. However, it does reflect a part of Brooks' resume that we'd just as soon forget.

Product Details

• Actors: Cary Elwes, Richard Lewis, Roger Rees, Amy Yasbeck, Dave Chappelle, Isaac Hayes, Tracey Ullman
• Director: Mel Brooks
• Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), Dolby Surround (English, French, Spanish)
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Region: A
• Number of Discs: 1
• Rating: PG-13
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• Blu-ray Disc Release Date: May 11, 2010
• Run Time: 104 minutes
• List Price: $39.99
• Extras:
  • Funny Men in Tights: Three Generations of Comedy
  • HBO Special: Robin Hood: Men in Tights - The Legend Had It Coming
  • LaserDisc Commentary by Mel Brooks
  • Isolated Score Track
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Mel Brooks Trailers