metatakeRandom

Airplane! (1980)

Film
DirectorJim Abrahams
Meta takes1

Figures

Form & technique
  • The opening scene spoofing Jaws (the airplane fin cutting through clouds).
  • Elmer Bernstein's dramatic musical score. Anempathetic Sound
  • The Saturday Night Fever dance scene flashback.
  • The film's narrative structure, which constantly pauses for unrelated gags.
Tropes
  • Dr. Rumack's line "I am serious. And don't call me Shirley."
  • The "Surely/Shirley" pun exchange.
  • Ted Striker's "drinking problem" gag.

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