Why Do People Hate Mel Brooks?
Mel Brooks is a legendary comedy filmmaker known for directing hilarious and often controversial films like Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and The Producers.
While Brooks has many adoring fans, he also has detractors who take issue with the provocative nature of some of his humor. Here’s an in-depth look at some of the potential reasons why Brooks rubs some people the wrong way.
Does Mel Brooks Use Offensive Humor?
One of the most common criticisms of Mel Brooks is that he frequently uses humor that could be deemed offensive, controversial, or politically incorrect by today’s standards. For example:
- Blazing Saddles (1974) uses racial slurs and stereotypes extensively for comedic effect. This includes liberal use of the “N word” as well as jokes about slavery and racism.
- History of the World: Part I (1981) includes a musical number called “Jews in Space” that makes light of Jewish stereotypes.
- To Be or Not To Be (1983) includes jokes about Hitler and the Nazis that some view as being in poor taste.
Brooks defends his style of comedy by saying he is using these provocative elements to make larger satirical points. However, some believe he goes too far and ends up reinforcing harmful stereotypes instead of simply poking fun at them. The off-color nature of his humor rubs many viewers the wrong way.
Does He Make Fun of Sensitive Subjects?
In addition to racial humor, Brooks also frequently makes comedy out of topics like religion, sexuality, and disability – subjects some believe should be off-limits for laughs. For example:
- Young Frankenstein (1974) makes fun of abnormal psychology by depicting Dr. Frankenstein’s hunchbacked assistant Igor as a comedic figure.
- In History of the World: Part I, Brooks portrays the Spanish Inquisition for laughs, including a lively song and dance number called “The Inquisition.” Some find this parody of religious persecution to be done in poor taste.
- Many of his films include vulgar sexual innuendos and jokes about taboo desires like incest and homosexuality. This includes Running Gags in films like Blazing Saddles with references to slavery and sexual assault.
While Mel Brooks argues he is using comedy to take down oppressive power structures, some believe mocking marginalized groups and tragic historical events should have some boundaries. His tendency to joke about sensitive topics irks critics.
Is His Humor Considered Lowbrow?
In addition to pushing boundaries with provocative subjects, Mel Brooks is also known for a decidedly lowbrow comedic style that relies heavily on slapstick, vulgarity, and silliness. He liberally mocks intellectual and cultural icons of Western society using childish humor and exaggerated caricatures. For example:
- High Anxiety (1977) spoofs the films of Alfred Hitchcock with ridiculous sight gags and bathroom jokes.
- Spaceballs (1987) offers a delightfully stupid Star Wars parody filled with puns and sci-fi inanity.
- Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993) retells the classic English tale with a juvenile spin, including a running flatulence gag.
This lowbrow style turns off some audiences who feel Brooks squanders opportunities for more clever humor with broad jokes aimed at the lowest common denominator. His relentless silliness annoys those looking for more nuanced comedy.
Has His Style Aged Poorly?
Another issue frequently cited by Mel Brooks detractors is that his provocative, lowbrow comedy style has simply not aged well. The boundary-pushing topics and gags that may have shocked audiences in the 1970s and 80s now feel stale, overdone, and lack nuance. For example:
- Jokes about racism and racial slurs in Blazing Saddles seem dated to modern audiences more aware of systemic racism and oppression.
- His relentless skewering of Hitler and Nazis in films like The Producers (1967) and To Be or Not to Be now feel overdone, with little new ground covered.
- Homophobic undertones in films like Young Frankenstein have not passed the test of time and changing cultural attitudes.
- Slapstick elements like predictable sight gags have been done to death, leaving his later films feeling tired and derivative.
Some argue that Brooks’ taboo-busting comedy style was better suited for its original era, and does not offer the boundary-pushing punch it once did. The shock value has diminished over time.
Is His Humor Too Narrowly Targeted?
Another common critique of Mel Brooks’ comedies is that they too narrowly target a specific niche audience, potentially alienating wider audiences. Specifically:
- Brooks’ films overflow with winking references and loving parodies of classic films and directors from the early Hollywood era. However, many of these allusions to old cinema and insider Hollywood jokes go over the heads of average viewers.
- His relentless mocking of iconic figures like Hitler, Hitchcock, and sci-fi tropes requires the audience to be fairly pop-culture literate to appreciate. Those not versed in this canon don’t always enjoy his brand of referential humor.
- He primarily satirizes very American or Euro-centric cultural touchstones that don’t necessarily translate well to international audiences unfamiliar with this context.
Some argue that this niche targeting of his humor makes Mel Brooks’ films less accessible and entertaining to mass audiences. They accuse him of vanity and elitism in crafting “inside baseball” style comedy.
Is He Unwilling to Evolve His Humor?
One final critique often made of veteran comedic director Mel Brooks is that his style has remained stubbornly static over his decades-long career. For example:
- He continues relying on lowbrow slapstick and provocation long past its prime, making later films like Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995) feel dated.
- He maintains a decidedly non-PC attitude even as audiences have grown more sensitive to inappropriate humor targeting marginalized groups.
- His parodies remain mired in the pop culture of the 60s, 70s and 80s, with little effort made to satirize modern touchstones more relevant to contemporary audiences.
In short, some argue that Brooks’ refusal to evolve with the times makes his latter-day work feel stubbornly retrograde. While maintain your artistic voice is admirable, critics believe Brooks goes too far clinging to what worked decades ago but now seems dated or insensitive. A lack of evolution frustrates long-time fans hoping for new innovations.
Why Do Others Love Mel Brooks’ Humor?
However, while Mel Brooks certainly has his share of detractors, he still enjoys a legion of loyal fans who argue his style of provocative, lowbrow comedy stands the test of time. Here are some of the reasons Brooks defenders continue applauding his work:
He Mocks Oppression and Hypocrisy
Fans argue Brooks’ willingness to make controversial jokes serves an important satirical function – mocking oppression, hypocrisy, and abuses of power. For example:
- Jokes about racism in Blazing Saddles are meant to highlight the absurdity and cruelty of discrimination.
- Laughing at Hitler and the Nazis helps expose these evils and prevent such horrors from recurring.
- Religious jokes targeting dogmatism and persecution satirize those who misuse faith to harm others.
By using humor to speak truth to power, Brooks lets audiences laugh at oppressors rather than internalize trauma. Laughter serves as a coping mechanism allowing us to process difficult realities.
Vulgarity Has Value
Supporters argue crude jokes about taboo topics serve the vital purpose of bursting societal bubbles and challenging sexual repression. Brooks’ ribald humor provides an outlet to explore risqué desires in a way social conventions often forbid.
Unfiltered comedy provides catharsis and helps release anxieties around cultural taboos. While shocking, his vulgarity comes from a humanistic place meant to liberate audiences, not simply provoke.
He Demystifies “High Culture”
Fans contend Brooks’ parodies of “respectable” art forms and intellectual icons help demystify high culture, making it more accessible to average people. He brings icons like Shakespeare, Beethoven, and Frankenstein’s monster down to Earth using bawdy, irreverent humor.
Laughing at pretentiousness allows audiences to appreciate the absurdity in everything. Brooks satirizes snooty cultural gatekeeping.
He Champions the Underdog
Brooks is beloved for using humor to champion underdogs and outsiders. Films like The Producers, Blazing Saddles, and Robin Hood: Men In Tights center and humanize Jewish people, people of color, LGBTQ communities and other marginalized groups.
Laughing with the underdog, not at them, becomes a joyful, empathetic act. Brooks balances vulgarity with humanism.
He Crafts Clever Parodies
While marked by lowbrow slapstick, fans argue Brooks’ films also contain plenty of clever verbal wit, wordplay, and incisive satire. Films like Young Frankenstein and High Anxiety demonstrate a clear love and knowledge of classic cinema through painstaking recreation and clever subversion.
Brooks packs his broad comedies with plenty of subtle, multilayered jokes demonstrating real wit and filmmaking craft. Beneath the silly surface lies intelligence.
Mel Brooks Film Style Breakdown
Here is a breakdown of some of the most common comedic techniques and tropes Mel Brooks uses across his films:
| Style Element | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Parody | Loving parodies mock classic films, genres, directors | Young Frankenstein, High Anxiety, Spaceballs |
| Satire | Satire and irony mock hypocrisy, discrimination, power structures | Blazing Saddles, The Producers, Robin Hood: Men In Tights |
| Slapstick | Silly physical comedy, pratfalls, vulgar sight gags | Blazing Saddles, Silent Movie, History of the World Part 1 |
| Anachronism | Modern references in historical settings create humor | Blazing Saddles, Robin Hood: Men In Tights |
| Caricature | Exaggerated performances mock archetypes | High Anxiety, Dracula: Dead and Loving It |
| Farce | Frantic pace, elaborate plots, wacky characters | The Producers, Young Frankenstein |
| Wordplay | Puns, vulgarity, and verbal wit | History of the World: Part 1, To Be or Not to Be |
| Recurring Gags | Running jokes and repeated bits | “Walk this way” gags in Young Frankenstein |
| Breaking Fourth Wall | Characters break character and address camera | Blazing Saddles, Robin Hood: Men In Tights |
By combining provocative subject matter with this diverse comedic toolkit, Brooks developed an iconic style all his own that forever influenced comedy.
Table: Notable Mel Brooks Films Ranked
| Film | Year | Genre/Style | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Producers | 1967 | Musical satire | Scheme to profit from failed play mocks Nazism and greed |
| Blazing Saddles | 1974 | Western satire/parody | Black sheriff mocks racism and hypocrisy in the Old West |
| Young Frankenstein | 1974 | Horror parody | Spoof of classic monster films and mad scientists |
| Silent Movie | 1976 | Silent film parody | Mel Brooks’ take on slapstick silent films |
| High Anxiety | 1977 | Hitchcock parody | Spoof of suspense and horror film tropes |
| History of the World: Part I | 1981 | Period satire | Comedy vignettes mock human history from cavemen to French Revolution |
| To Be or Not to Be | 1983 | War satire | Hitler parody set in WWII Poland with Brooks and wife Anne Bancroft |
| Spaceballs | 1987 | Sci-fi parody | Ridiculous send-up of Star Wars and sci-fi films |
| Robin Hood: Men in Tights | 1993 | Adventure parody | Brooks’ take on Robin Hood legend and swashbuckling films |
| Dracula: Dead and Loving It | 1995 | Horror parody | Spoof of classic Dracula films with Leslie Nielsen |
By constantly reinventing his provocative comedy across genres while maintain his signature style, Brooks has built an impressive satirical canon that has stood the test of time for many fans.
Conclusion
In the end, whether you love him or hate him, there’s no denying Mel Brooks has cemented his place as a comedy legend. His fearless, controversial comedic style paved the way for future boundary-pushing humor while helping bring taboo topics into mainstream conversation.
While his provocative approach understandably rubs some the wrong way, Brooks continues making legions of loyal fans laugh by targeting oppression with expertly-crafted lowbrow comedy and championing the underdog. After more than 50 years in show business, the comedy master shows no sign of slowing down or compromising his trademark sense of humor.
Whichever side they take in the debate around his legacy, most can agree Mel Brooks will likely remain one of the most iconic, influential and polarizing comedic voices for generations to come.
His reputation as both a comedy genius and problematic provocateur seems equally secured in the annals of Hollywood history. So for now, the laughter and outrage Brooks incites remains as passionate as ever.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mel Brooks
Here are answers to some common questions about why Mel Brooks is controversial and divisive for some audiences:
Does Mel Brooks just try to be as offensive as possible?
While Brooks embraces controversial humor, most experts believe his films have a genuine satirical intent behind the provocation.
He uses shock to highlight oppression and hypocrisy in need of mocking, not just to get cheap laughs from vulgarity alone. Still, some argue he goes too far or misses the mark.
Should Brooks’ older movies be judged by modern standards?
This is a tricky debate. Some argue Brooks’ early films like Blazing Saddles need contextualizing in their era, while others believe comedy that degrades marginalized groups is always problematic. But most agree later Brooks efforts feel dated as audience sensibilities evolve.
Why does Brooks mock Hitler and the Nazis so often?
Brooks, who is Jewish and served in WWII, likely found humor a coping mechanism for processing the trauma and horror of the Holocaust. Mocking evil men responsible for genocide helps disempower their legacy. However, some argue constantly joking about the Nazis now feels excessive.
Is Mel Brooks’ comedy elitist?
While marked by lowbrow slapstick, Brooks also fills his films with very insider, self-referential humor aimed at cinephiles and pop culture enthusiasts well-versed in the classics. This niche appeal potentially alienates more casual viewers.
Has Brooks influenced modern comedy?
Absolutely. For better or worse, Brooks helped open the door to today’s no-holds-barred provocative comedy. He paved the way for everything from South Park to Sacha Baron Cohen. But while groundbreaking in his heyday, many now find Brooks’ style dated compared to modern humor.
