Mel Brooks is the subject of a new documentary, called The 99-Year Old Man, that is apparently meticulously planned and titled to come out this week because he is, in fact, 99. This means that he was closer to 97 when they started shooting it, as the project was announced in 2022. Not to be macabre, but thank GOD that all went as planned. I am also pleased to report they finished filming the Spaceballs sequel. Everything’s coming up Mel, and I hope it will for a long time.
In honor of Mel, what’s your favorite of his movies, or moments? I watched Spaceballs so many times as a kid that I can recite it, and it was so much fun to share it with the beans and watch them delight in it as much as I did. I also know Blazing Saddles like the back of my hand, although we haven’t shown them that one. It’s one of those films that’s satirizing a lot of super specific things they might not entirely relate to, and therefore using a lot of language that I am thrilled to say they would trip up on, and not care for, even in parody. I don’t know. Is the authentic frontier gibberish worth it??? And obviously a lot of folks’ first Mel Brooks love was Young Frankenstein, with the brilliant Teri Garr and Gene Wilder. Do you want to know something bracing? If my admittedly cursory scan is correct, Mel Brooks is the only person in that movie who is still alive. That might also be true of Blazing Saddles. How bittersweet to outlive all your favorite co-conspirators of yore. And yet, look how vital and full of joy he is! I hope Spaceballs 2: The Search For More Money is a) actually called that, because how can they resist, it was written in the original!!!, and b) a fitting part of his immense legacy.
