Spaceballs 2 - My trailer reaction...

 A "Spaceballs 2 - official announcement teaser" dropped June 12 for the truly shameless sequel money grab to 1987's Mel Brooks "Star Wars" spoof, "Spaceballs." It's a sequel 40 years in the making that people wanted, but didn't know they wanted, or maybe they did know but why bother saying anything because everyone figured it would never happen. 

I guess "Spaceballs 2" is a thing...officially. Or, will be a thing next year as mentioned in the announcement. 

Though the trailer is one long word scrawl in the spirit of "Star Wars" satirization which is on point with the comedy style of "Spaceballs," it got laughs out of me. Even my wife laughed though she's not much of a "Spaceballs" fan.  

I keep seeing articles and other posts on social media mentioning that not only is 98-year old comedian Mel Brooks, who wrote and directed the first "Spaceballs" (I can't believe I'm using the word "first" in the same sentence as "Spaceballs") and plays various roles in the movie, returning to this upcoming sequel, so is Bill Pullman who plays Han Solo spoof, "Lone Starr." I also saw an article that his son, Lewis Pullman, will appear alongside his dad in this movie. 

I think the biggest news surrounding the cast is the return of actor Rick Moranis who stars as "Dark Helmet" in the first. 

Moranis has been very selective in the last several years about what roles and venues he takes. Fans were hopeful to see him take on the role of Louis Tully once again in the last two "Ghostbuster" sequels, "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" (2021) and "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" (2024). Sadly, that didn't happen. 

Moranis did however return as the voice of Dark Helmet in an episode of "The Goldbergs'" back in 2018. So, as I said, he is certainly very selective about roles and such. I don't know if I'm more excited to see a sequel to one of the best satirical films "Spaceballs" or to see Rick Moranis appear on screen again. 

Based on his filmography, Moranis's last on-screen appearance was in the 1997 direct-to-video movie "Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves." He has done some voice work after that, including the Disney animated movies "Brother Bear" (2003) and "Brother Bear 2" (2006). 

Daphne Zuniga, who plays Princess Vespa in "Spaceballs" is returning as "Queen Vespa" in the sequel according to her filmography. And I'm glad! Glad! Glad! Glad! Glad! Glad! 

The last I saw Zuniga pop up on screen was on an episode of "Masked Singer" back in 2023. (I watch it with my wife.) So, she's still ever popular. 

In the Spaceballs universe, she and Lone Starr, who got married in "Spaceballs" will have children. Que Lewis Pullman. That's my prediction. 

Actress and singer, Keke Palmer is also set to star in this new movie. She has been in a number of movies, including Jordan Peeles' 2022 sci-fi horror flick, "Nope." Curious to see who her character will be. My guess is she'll take on the role of C3PO spoof, Dot Matrix, previously played by the late, great Joan Rivers.

I love satire as I've mentioned a few times in previous movie reviews. "Spaceballs" is one the best satirical movies, with quotable lines still quoted today. It's one of few comedies that still make me laugh pretty hard even though I already know the joke. "Ludicrous speed." "This is now, now. Everything that's happening now, is happening now." "Spaceballs, the flame thrower. The kids love this one."  Even after 40 years, whenever I do something stupid, like try to exit a car without first unbuckling my seatbelt, I'll throw out the exclamation, "That's gonna leave a mark!" It's also among one of the best movies from Mel Brooks, up among his top five movies along side "Young Frankenstein," "Blazing Saddles," "History of the World, Part I," and "The Producers." I'd also thrown in his slightly underrated comedy, "Silent Movie" among his best stuff. Brooks as pretty much lampooned every genre of movie. 

I, like probably so many other fans, will miss the presence of the late, great John Candy. His hilarious and highly popular performance as Chewbacca satire "Barf" (a mawg who's half man-half dog) is ingrained in pop-culture. It's certainly one of the more well-known Candy performances that really established his comedic talent. 

I'm curious to see how John Candy's character will be referenced in this new movie. I'm just as curious to see what the updated humor will be like this time around, what has happened in the Spaceballs universe since 1987, how the merchandising business has gone for Yogurt all this time, what happened to Lone Starr and everyone, and how it'll all be thrown in to tell a story 40-years after the first movie. I just have to see this.  

No doubt it'll lampoon the "Star Wars" films and spin-offs that have since come out. And I bet the trend of reboots and remakes to long-past movies will be kicked around. 

I was really disappointed with Mel Brook's 2023 "History of the World, Part II" - the sequel to his 1981 movie "History of the World, Part I."  The jokes were lousy. The writing was lousy. I hope the writers for "History of the World, Part II" haven't been anywhere near the writing table for "Spaceballs 2." Brian Grazer, Jeb Brody, Josh Gad and Josh Greenbaum are producing this thing, along with Kevin Salter, Adam Merims, Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez working as executive producers. So, fingers crossed. I don't know anything about them, honestly. 

Speaking of Josh Gad, I don't see the movie listed in his filmography. If he does have a role in the movie, maybe he'll play offspring or a relative of some kind to "Barf." Maybe Barf hooked up with a lady mawg and they had a litter of mawg puppies? And one of those mawgs is set to continue in the legacy of Barf. The legacy of Barf? That doesn't sound good.   

Regardless, after 40 years, and with Mel Brooks being 98, now is the time to carry on that search for more money. The schwartz awakens...from its nap, I guess. 

Also, Michael Winslow - please come back!