Mel Brooks, if nothing else, is spectacular at collecting up the clichés, the stereotypes, the conventions, the seriousness, and at the same time the joy and entertainment that comes in the different works he has made fun of over his career (countless westerns with Blazing Saddles, historical epics with History of the World part 1, the sci-fi boom of Star Wars/Trek with Spaceballs, silent films with Silent Movie). Here is no exception, as he tackles squarely the unmistakable catalog of Sir Alfred Hitchcock. All of the hits are here, and transfused into a story that is kooky, predictable, but all the while giving some very good belly laughs. Even if it doesn't always strike where the iron is unexpectedly hot like with Saddles or the Producers, it still makes its mark with uncanny ability in making the film watchable while being often unrelenting (whether everything works gag-wise or not) with the spoofs.

Mel Brooks stars as Dr. Richard Thorndyke, a psychiatrist with his own problem- a fear of heights (Vertigo, anyone). In the midst of this a murder takes place (it's an usual one, by the way, involving a scene in a car that's unsettling while hilarious). The major set-pieces take place at a hotel Dr. Thorndyke stays at for a conference, where the plot seems to thicken even tighter. At times one wonders if the film maybe should take itself a little more seriously to work, like with Young Frankenstein. But by also not letting up with the silliness and over-the-top gags, there are at least a few that stand-out in the overall Brooks oeuvre. One or two are just plain dumb funny, like a wolf-man imitation ala Harvey Korman to a patient afraid of werewolves during a session with Brooks. More often than not in the film, the gags are very expected, getting right to the point as it were.

The chief examples lie in two scenes that work great, and one that works OK. The first involves a particular bellhop not too fond of getting order for a newspaper (played by a young Barry Levinson),which leads to an all too obvious but shamelessly funny Psycho spoof. Or, of course, the scene in the park with the birds of THE Birds, which remains a truly disgusting scene in some respects (even if the laughs wear down towards the end, its a brilliantly constructed set-up). One that doesn't quite go up to snuff is a near-murder scene by a telephone booth. Madeline Kahn's character is on the other end, and the scene is maybe a little too familiar, even as a Hitchcock parody. Towards the end its funny, but only after the fact. It's not totally that the timing is off, maybe just something else that's hard to say. It might be funnier to others.

Still, its the glee thats put forth in the performances, and the little running gags (i.e. "I'll get it, I'll get it...I don't get it"),to make it a notable entry in Brooks' body of work. If you've seen Hitchcock's films and not Brooks' I'd still recommend it at least once, if only out of curiosity, as just from a film buff stand-point its kind of fascinating how a satirist like Brooks takes on Hitchcock's style, which often had its own morbid sense of humor (Psycho, in some ways, is more of a pitch-black comedy than a horror film). For me, the merging worked well, if not for a great overall comedy. And, at the least, there's another catchy title song by Brooks himself, leading to a sweet nightclub scene.

I am a massive Hitchcock fan, and when I heard of High Anxiety, I was intrigued. A spoof comedy taking on the masterpieces of Hitchcock. Then I saw the cast, Mel Brooks, Madeleine Kahn and Cloris Leachman, and I was like this is going to be a riot. I will admit I was hesitant of seeing this though. While I have seen some hilarious spoofs like Loaded Weapon 1, I have also seen some dreadful ones like Disaster Movie and Epic Movie. So before I watched this, I was like is this going to work.

And you know what? On the most part it does. High Anxiety is a hugely enjoyable spoof, that is actually one of the better ones I have seen. Sure, it has its flaws, but I will say it was much better than expected. I loved the references to Hitch's masterpieces Psycho, North By Northwest, Notorious and Vertigo scattered throughout the film. There are some great scenes, particularly the part when Thorndyke and Victoria disguise themselves in order to get through the security booth; that was priceless. However, there were others that came across as rather over-familiar, such as when Thorndyke is almost murdered in a phone box, though the phone call itself was hilarious. If you forgive the daft plot, it is very daft at times, but at other times it helps add to the fun.

The script has its hits and misses, mostly hits. There are some truly hilarious moments. I also thought the ending was great. The cinematography and scenery are fine too. And the performances are stellar. Mel Brooks has been better, but he still turned in a very entertaining performance. The late great Madeleine Kahn, looked absolutely stunning, quite possibly at her loveliest, and as Victoria, she was superb. And I mustn't forget the hilarious turn of Cloris Leachman as Nurse Charlotte Diesel, what a genius she is.

All in all, a very good movie. Look out for it. It has its flaws, but it is fun to watch, and a true treat for fans of Hitchcock. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Unlike in many of his films when he either is in a supporting part or not in t at all, creator Mel Brooks takes the lead himself in High Anxiety. This film is both a spoof and a homage to the master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock. One wonders what Hitch must have thought.

At the beginning Hitchcock fans will recognize the framework of Spellbound as Brooks like Gregory Peck comes to takeover an asylum where in High Anxiety Harvey Korman and head nurse Cloris Leachman have been running a very sweet racket bilking rich patients with some exotic neuroses.

Besides Spellbound I recognized bits from films like Psychio, The Birds, North By Northwest, Vertigo, and the finale comes straight from Rebecca. That's what I recognized other viewers will spot other work from Hitchcock.

Brooks assembled a great crew of comic players for even some of te smallest parts. My favorite is the aforementioned Cloris Leachman. In her makeup and costume she's hideously unrecognizable. Leachman looks like she got her training at Buchenwakd. Madeline Kahn is the required blond leading lady for a Hitchcock film. She and Brooks have a great scene with a metal detector as Brooks is n the run.

Mel Brooks fans and others will enjoy High Anxiety. And you will become one after viewing this film.