Favorite "tongue in cheek" movies/books/songs etc

[Mr Janny]

The movie, The Princess Bride, was on TV last night, and it got me thinking about the book that it's based on. The movie is great, an all time classic, but the book, by William Goldman, is pretty special as well. The entire thing is presented as an abridged version of a classic novel by an author named S. Morgentstern. Goldman makes commentary throughout the book with side notes, theories on what Morgenstern was trying to say with his words, difficulties he had in obtaining rights to the book, and even how he used to read it to his son. He leaves out important scenes claiming that he couldn't come to an agreement with Morgenstern's estate on how to present them, and encourages readers to write to the publisher to get copies of the missing text. It's very much a classic tale, made amusing by Goldman's commentary.

The thing is, there's no such person as S. Morgenstern. There is no classic novel called the Princess Bride. The entire thing, including the fake abridgement, comes from Goldman. It's one of those things where I'm sure you could read the book and enjoy it immensely without knowing it for what it really is, but once you figure out that the whole thing is a farce, you appreciate it on an entirely different level.



Another one that comes to mind would be the song "Hook" by Blues Traveler, where the entire song pokes fun at people who like the song without actually hearing what it's saying.


Anyway, I was wondering what some other favorite pieces of music/literature/film were out there, that sort of fit this mold.

 

[oldman]

How about the Batman series in the late 60s? Purposefully as campy as a show can get, which made it exciting to kids and hilarious to anyone over 13. I also read where some literary minds believe that "The Prince" by Macchiavelli (sp?) is actually a nose being thumbed at the royalty of the time.

 

[Mr Janny]

How about pretty much the entire "Wish You Were Here" album by Pink Floyd being a giant "FU" to the Music Industry.

 

[oldman]

How about pretty much the entire "Wish You Were Here" album by Pink Floyd being a giant "FU" to the Music Industry.

Have A Cigar. Although, I believe "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" was a tribute to Syd Barrett.

 

[Angie]

I'm not sure if it counts, but "This is Spinal Tap" is one of my favorite movies ever. More Christopher Guest.

 

[mapnerd]

Breakfast of Champions by Vonnegut comes to mind.

 

[Mr Janny]

Have A Cigar. Although, I believe "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" was a tribute to Syd Barrett.

yeah, it is a tribute, but Have a Cigar and Welcome to the Machine are definitely about the music industry. As is the album cover

 

[Angie]

Breakfast of Champions by Vonnegut comes to mind.

Good point - pretty much anything Vonnegut, in fact!

 

[Clark]

Robin Hood - Men in Tights.

I'm generally not a fan of "tongue-in-cheek" movies but this one was pretty good.

 

[Pitt_Clone]

I think Blazing Saddles qualifies.

 

[DarkStar]

Army of Darkness

 

[HoopsTournament]

Fargo. It states that it is based on a true story at the beginning, but is a complete farce.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

I think Blazing Saddles qualifies.

Space balls is to star wars as blazing saddles is to westerns. So I will contribute SpaceBalls.

 

[3TrueFans]

Definitely Spaceballs.

 

[Mr Janny]

Those are all fine films, but I'm not sure that they're tongue in cheek, as much as they are out and out parody. When I see something as tongue in cheek, I guess I see it containing a little more of a secret joke or double meaning.

maybe I've got it wrong. That's just always been my interpretation of the phrase.

 

[weR138]

I'm not sure if it counts, but "This is Spinal Tap" is one of my favorite movies ever. More Christopher Guest.

Ghaaahhh!

I was going to say this!

Regarding Pink Floyd; Have a Cigar and Welcome to the Machine aren't tongue in cheek, they're straight up FU's to the record industry.

 

[Angie]

Those are all fine films, but I'm not sure that they're tongue in cheek, as much as they are out and out parody. When I see something as tongue in cheek, I guess I see it containing a little more of a secret joke or double meaning.

maybe I've got it wrong. That's just always been my interpretation of the phrase.

I think they're all shades of the same color:

Tongue-in-cheek - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

But I see what you mean.

Still - Spinal Tap.

 

[Pitt_Clone]

Those are all fine films, but I'm not sure that they're tongue in cheek, as much as they are out and out parody. When I see something as tongue in cheek, I guess I see it containing a little more of a secret joke or double meaning.

maybe I've got it wrong. That's just always been my interpretation of the phrase.

Blazing Saddles does break the 4th wall at the end and show that it's just a movie when they spill into all the other studio lots with people making other movies. I guess that's mainly what I was thinking of, along with the commentary on racial issues.

 

[Mr Janny]

Blazing Saddles does break the 4th wall at the end and show that it's just a movie when they spill into all the other studio lots with people making other movies. I guess that's mainly what I was thinking of, along with the commentary on racial issues.

ok, maybe my definition is too narrow, then.

 

[weR138]

Fargo. It states that it is based on a true story at the beginning, but is a complete farce.

I think this is the perfect definition of tongue in cheek movie. As you state the Coen's set it up right at the beginning with a jab at Iowegian gullibility and never quit.