Today on Binge Safari, we ain’t moseying—we’re stampeding headfirst into one of the greatest, boldest, most flat-out unhinged comedies ever saddled: Blazing Saddles.
Released in 1974 and currently streaming on Max, this Mel Brooks classic didn’t just push buttons—it blew them up with dynamite, then roasted marshmallows over the wreckage. It’s the western spoof that redefined satire, launched a thousand think pieces, and gave us one of the most chaotic endings in cinematic history.
Critics Ricky the Reel Raccoon and Fifi the Film Frenchie are galloping into town with six-shooters full of opinions—and they’re not aiming for subtle.
Ricky’s Review – A Raccoon Starts a Bar Fight with Censorship
I don’t care how many times I’ve seen Blazing Saddles, I cackle like a jackal every time someone farts around a campfire. This movie is chaos in a cowboy hat and I LOVE IT.
Let’s talk about the real sheriff in town—Bart, played by Cleavon Little. Cool, slick, and 100% done with everyone’s nonsense. The man rides into town as a Black sheriff and immediately gets hit with a wall of racism, and what does he do? Turns it into the funniest movie takedown of American bigotry ever made.
And then there’s Mongo, played by Alex Karras, the human freight train who punches horses and reads philosophy. Yes, really. And yes, it works.
Everything about this movie is reckless genius. The jokes are rapid-fire and wildly inappropriate—and that’s the point. It calls out racism, sexism, and Hollywood hypocrisy with gags so sharp they’d draw blood if they weren’t wrapped in laughter.
And don’t even get me started on that ending—what starts as a western turns into a movie-lot brawl that spills into other sound stages, includes a pie fight, and ends with the characters watching their own movie. WHAT IS THIS CINEMATIC BLACK MAGIC?
Also, real talk: we need more movies that end with a horse-riding hero going to a premiere with popcorn.
🗑️ Ricky’s Rating: 5 Trash Cans
This movie is offensive on purpose—and it’s comedy done RIGHT. If you can’t laugh at it, you probably shouldn’t be riding with the posse.
Fifi’s Review – The Snarky Cinephile Tips Her Hat to a Legend
Oh honey, Blazing Saddles is a masterclass in weaponized satire. It’s not just funny—it’s dangerously clever. And it proves that sometimes, the best way to confront hate is with a punchline wrapped in dynamite.
Let’s give a standing ovation to Madeline Kahn as Lili von Shtupp, the German showgirl with a voice like molasses and a libido like a wrecking ball. Her “I’m Tired” number? Iconic. Every wiggle, every sigh, every sultry snarl is a comedic treasure. Kahn earned an Oscar nomination for this role, and deserved a throne.
And of course, Mel Brooks, directing and starring as Governor William J. Le Petomane and the Yiddish-speaking Native American chief (yes, really). Brooks doesn’t just break the fourth wall—he licks it, sets it on fire, and dances on the ashes.
The script, co-written by Brooks, Norman Steinberg, Andrew Bergman, Alan Uger, and none other than Richard Pryor, is a brutal, brilliant takedown of systemic racism and Hollywood cowardice. That’s right—the Richard Pryor was in the writers’ room. No wonder it bites so hard.
But don’t let the slapstick fool you. This is one of the most fearless comedies ever made, and it paved the way for every boundary-pushing satire since. You think South Park or The Boys exist without this? Please.
🐾 Fifi’s Rating: 5 Paw Prints
A flawless blend of high art and lowbrow brilliance. If comedy is a weapon, Mel Brooks came fully loaded.
Final Thoughts – Still the Sheriff of Comedy Town
Blazing Saddles isn’t just a comedy—it’s a revolution in 93 minutes. Ricky and Fifi agree: it’s loud, bold, fearless, and still packs a punch 50 years later. Whether you’re in it for the pie fights or the political gut punches, this is essential viewing.
📢 Stream Blazing Saddles now on Max, and join us next time on Binge Safari, where the films are feral and the critics are armed with sass.
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