HIGH ANXIETY (1977) ** I like Mel Brooks, and I love Alfred Hitchcock. I suspect that Brooks would vote the same way. Before the opening credits have concluded Mel feels the need to clarify that he's celebrating, and not making fun of. I thought it was a promising premise and approach in the right hands, but it kind of peters out, quickly, rarely revived. Some of the Hitchcockian shots are so wonderfully over-done that you can't deny any merit to the project, but it's just not all that fun, or funny, or witty or insightful. It has its moments: the werewolf bit is laugh out loud funny (Harvey Korman saves the day), and the psychiatrist convention has its moments…Madeline Kahn is too great to be on screen this much without reminding you that she's capable of brilliance, no matter how bad of a hairstyle and wardrobe they stick her with. And, I mean, generally, that's it. Mel's too smart to ever let it get too bad, but it's difficult to get excited about this, if you've already seen Blazing Saddles or Spaceballs.
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