Tanya’s Score: Good*
Rated: 14A
Starring: Starman, Vicky from The Love Boat, the host of Unsolved Mysteries and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Plot: Zaniness ensues when the flight crew of a Chicago-bound plane become sick and a man afraid of flying (Robert Hays) must land the plane safely.
Tanya’s Verdict: Almost 40 years old, and this movie still makes me laugh – though now I’m not sure what’s funnier – the movie’s all-around silliness or the out-and-out racism and sexism played up for laughs. Watching this movie is like hunting for Easter eggs, if you blink you might miss an instance of clever word play (Ted Striker’s “drinking problem”) or more likely a moment of sheer absurdity (Steve McCroskey posing in front of his portrait). A flashback scene involving the romantic lead actors on a dance floor had me in tears. Full disclosure, despite recalling this movie from my early childhood, there are many inappropriate parts I had forgotten about including sexual innuendo, mild drug use and a flash of bare breasts – not to mention the racism and general political incorrectness. My two daughters were lukewarm about the movie – but my 8-year-old son – he loved it!
*Four score descriptions: Sh**; Okay; Good; Great