Po Mo in the Movies -- Danielle Wright

"Spaceballs"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094012/

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.arxvaldex.com/shop/images/spaceballs.jpg

A fan's best clips of "Spaceballs" Pts. 1 & 2 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcY090XV284

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEZxgEgG5Cg

"Combing the desert."

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://jordanhoffman.com/wp-content/uploads/spaceballs_large_12.jpg&imgrefurl=

"Lost in the desert with Princess Vespa, Dot Matrix, Lone Star and Barf."

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Spaceballs

Mel Brooks' comedy "Spaceballs" is a classic example of a postmodern film style in that it, as the book says, "gives way to relentless quoting and remakes" (pg. 321). The film is a satirical and hilarious spoof on the modern classic "Star Wars" saga and countless other classic moderns including the popular 60s television show "Star Trek"; the popular horror film, "Aliens"; and other popular sci-fi movies. The comedy also foregoes the rules of typical filmmaking by constantly "breaking the fourth wall" (communicating directly with the camera and the audience) and "leaning on the fourth wall" (making references to editing techniques). The film also has a fairy tale satirical twist by incorporating the less than charming character Prince Valium (yawn) who is slated to marry the beautiful but spoiled, Princess Vespa. The bratty princess flees her wedding because she loathes the thought of marrying such a boring prince simply because he is the last available prince of royal blood. In her flight, however, she is captured by the evil Spaceballs who holds her ransom for the combination to Planet Druidia's air shield, the Princess' home planet, and has to be rescued by the brave and handsome Prince Charming (though he does not know it), Lone Star. In this adventure/comedy, love eventually conquers all and, as in all fairy tales, has the classic happy ending. 

"Spaceballs" also capitalizes on technology and marketing/merchandising opportunities by introducing several popula products in junctures throughout the movie including Mr. Coffee, Mr. Rental (VHS), Mercedes (the Princess' car/ship), and Brooks' take on the Millennium Falcon, Lone Star's Winnebago, to name only a few. The film also touches on the trend of cosmetic surgery, the effects of pollution, and the prejudice against ethnicities (in this case the play on the "Druish" [Jewish]).