Common Sense Note
Parents should know that this movie contains some mild cursing, drug use, a drawn-out barroom brawl between two Girl Scouts, and plenty of sexual innuendo. The drug and sexual references may fly over the heads of younger viewers. However, the overall tone of the film makes it clear that nothing is to be taken seriously.
Families can discuss the use of humor in the movie. AIRPLANE! is an equal opportunity offender that features several jokes at the expense of women, people of color, war veterans, and gays. Parents might consider talking with their kids about the intentions of the filmmakers. How does context change the way we interpret comedy?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Elliot Panek
When the passengers and crew aboard Trans American Airlines flight 209 fall ill from food poisoning, passenger and veteran aviator Ted Striker (Robert Hayes) must put his wartime trauma behind him and take the throttle. As fate would have it, his old flame and flight attendant, Elaine Dickinson (Julie Hagerty) is on board. Elaine's rekindled love for Stryker revitalizes his confidence, and with the help of a couple of hilariously gruff air traffic controllers, he flies the plane to safety. Along the way, the film mixes embarrassingly obvious puns and sight gags, as well as surprisingly quick-witted knocks at everyday airport/airplane situations.
Without a doubt, AIRPLANE! reigns as king of all 80s parody films. Leslie Nielsen (in a precursor to his turn as Lt. Frank Drebin in the Naked Gun series), Robert Stack, and Lloyd Bridges appear to enjoy portraying characters that lampoon their previous dramatic roles. And while the dialogue and references to films such as From Here to Eternity and Saturday Night Fever will appeal mainly to adults, site gags like the jive-talking granny (played by Barbara Billingsley of Leave it to Beaver) and lines such as, "Surely you can't be serious?" "I am serious... and don't call me Shirley," will have kids rolling on the floor. Parents should note that most of the jokes featured in this film are at the expense of various religious and ethnic groups in this film. They are not especially mean-spirited, yet some might interpret the film's off-color humor as offensive.
Families who enjoy AIRPLANE! might enjoy The Naked Gun, Top Secret! or Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentA topless woman flashes across the screen, plenty of sexual innuendo. |
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ViolenceA comically lengthy fight between two Girl Scouts. |
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LanguageMild obscenities, a few "s" words. |
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Social BehaviorMost anti-social behavior is clearly in jest. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoReferences to amphetamines, cocaine, glue-sniffing and drinking. Some post-coital and stress-related smoking. |
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