Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Robin Hood comes home after fighting in the Crusades to learn that the noble King Richard is in exile and that the despotic King John now rules England, with the help of the Sheriff of Rottingham. Robin Hood assembles a band of fellow patriots to do battle with King John and the Sheriff.
Robin Hood: Men in Tights is a Mel Brooks spoof that hits its parody targets with mixed success. The plot is purely a vehicle for gags, offering little structural originality beyond its source material lampoon. Acting is broad and comedic by design but rarely transcends the sketch-comedy level — Cary Elwes is charming but the ensemble is uneven. Cinematography is functional and unremarkable for a mid-budget comedy parody. Novelty earns a modest bump as a distinctly Brooks-ian send-up arriving after the Kevin Costner Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, giving it specific satirical purpose and a recognizable comedic voice, though it's far from Brooks' most inventive work. The ending is perfunctory and rushed, wrapping up the spoof with little payoff beyond a final joke.