High Anxiety Reviews

"High Anxiety" is fun for a Hitchcock geek, much less so for those unfamiliar with the Master's work.

The film's standalone gags are very hit and miss, and often hobbled by Mel's presence. He's a good writer, but a not a great performer-- certainly not lead role material. It's no wonder his best films ("The Producers", "Blazing Saddles", and "Young Frankenstein") all have Mel more behind the camera rather than in front of it.

Another thing that's off is the timing of the gags. It's been said that brevity is the soul of wit, and too many jokes are just too drawn out, either in concept or simply due to a lack of good editing.

What makes the film worthwhile is its spoofs of Hitchcock films, from "Psycho" to "Birds" to "North by Northwest" to "Vertigo" (though, strangely, there's no use of the famous Vertigo effect, caused by zooming the camera in while physically pulling the camera back).

If you're a huge Hitchcock fan or a Mel Brooks completist then you'll probably want to own this. Others should rent it if they're curious, but it's hard for me to recommend it.