Re-Review: Blazing Saddles

This is sadly a bit of a repeat, since I've watched this movie before, but I had a fairly busy weekend and will be reviewing two movies I've watched before quite a bit. Blazing Saddles is a comedy made by Mel Brooks from 1974, having been released at a time where racial and political satire were at a high. Not to say comedy has receded by any means today, there are still great comedies that come out, but many of the films that released around this time still have relevance today. This movie is funny, sharp, holds up surprisingly well as a commentary on the 1800's and even several tropes in westerns, comedies, and overall action flicks. However, the best part about it? It's ability to stick to its guns and be a full-on comedy. The ending is perfectly resplendent in how over-the-top, bizarre, and funny it is. It comes out of nowhere and doesn't apologize for it. Sure, a couple ethnic slurs and insults are thrown around and they definitely wouldn't be used today in most films (bar Quentin Tarantino or some high-brow director) but here, they tow the line and avoid being insensitive. The tropes mocked are done well too, from "fish out of water" to "racist small town" to "evil villain trying to destroy town". These tropes would feel stale in a lesser movie but this one makes them feel irreverent and out of place to the point where the comedy works. The late Cleavon Little is so unbelievably funny in this movie that I was astonished at the fact that he wasn't in more after this. His comedic timing and performance drive home his almost cartoonish nature. The late Gene Wilder is also hilarious, stoic, and so far detached from Willy Wonka that you fully understand how a man like this stayed relevant and distanced himself from the role. Lastly, the villain is almost so silly in his evil and "intelligence" that I felt like he should've had a monocle to hold up or a cat on his lap. Mel Brooks created a masterpiece all the way back in 1974 with wonderful acting, stellar comedy, and a satire of tropes old and new; and that man rode a Blazing Saddle and a shining star indeed.

Rating: 10/10