Top 5 Star Wars Parodies
Star Wars is one of the most beloved entertainment properties in the world. Millions of people around the world love and celebrate it. However, it does lend itself to parody. Contrary to what you may think, I love a good Star Wars parody. So much so that I will be counting down my top 5 favorite parodies. I am only going by fully fledged parodies though, so don't expect any short online videos on here.
5. Phineas and Ferb Star Wars
At first mention, this sounds like a horrible idea and execution. However, in reality, it actually holds up well as a good satire as well as in its own way, celebration, of the franchise. The show for a kids show was actually not that bad, and its trademark humor of slapstick music, and in-jokes suprisingly fit well for the parody. I think my favorite joke from the special was when the characters escaped from the Death Star and Phineas asked "what about all the innocent cooks, janitors, etc. from the Death Star?" They then appear directly behind there. I think that works because well, it does bring up a good point. Not all the people in both Death Stars were probably evil. In fact, I bet there was other Rebel prisoners in there as well. If a Disney Channel special makes you think of stuff like that than it deserves a spot on here.
4. Chad Vader: Day Shift Manager
I know I said no online stuff, but I also said no short online stuff. This was an online series, and a damn funny one. It is a simple idea, the "brother" of Darth Vader, Chad Vader, is the day shift manager of a grocery store, Empire Market. From there, it is about his daily life as a manager and how he interacts with all of the other employees.
In theory, this sounds like a horrible idea, but it is execution is great. The characters, especially Chad Vader, are really entertaining and play off each other well, the situations they get into are genuially funny, and it tells a suprisingly entertaining tale. Fun fact, Lucasarts was so impressed with Matt Sloan who voiced Chad in this show that they hired him to play Darth Vader in the Force Unleased games.
3. Family Guy Star Wars Trilogy
Family Guy is a show that will make fun of everything. Therefore, it was only a matter of time until they made fun of Star Wars. What they did was they went through the original trilogy and retold it with Family Guy's characters and humor. For the most part, it works. How they lampoon the soruce material while also paying homage to it is a great combination. The characters all fit their role perfectly and some of the jokes that they tell had me laughing my ass off. "Hey, giant robot-camels."
2. Robot Chicken Star Wars Trilogy
I know a lot of people argue which of these parody trilogies they like more. Personally, I like this set more, why, I think its funnier. Robot Chicken is a show that will make a short parody sketch of anything but many people wondered if they can make a whole half-hour special based on Star Wars jokes. Well, it certainly worked. The jokes they make fun of the source material by basically pointing out plot holes and other inconsistences within the franchise. However, it also does it with care and love that truly comes from Star Wars fans. Heck, they even got some of th orginal cast members to come back such as Billy Dee Williams and Carrie Fisher.
On a side note, I totally want a show dedicated to Vader, Palpatine, and Gary the stormtrooper.
Honorabale Mentions
I have two honorable mentions. The first is A Clone Apart. This is basically the Star Wars equivalent to Halo's Red vs. Blue. This was all done and anaimated with the Battlefront 2 game engine. Surprisingly, the creators do a good job with the animation, voice work, and storytelling.
The other is the Lego Star Wars games. I think you can classify those games as parodies. I think. If not, well, the games are fun at least.
1. Spaceballs
This was the number one from the moment I started this list and will continue to be unless somebody somehow manages to top it. Take note modern Hollywood, this is how a parody movie should be done. Not crap like Epic Movie or a Haunted House. What can I say, the characters, fantastic, the atmospshere, awesome, the jokes, comedy gold. Seriously, this movie is so quotable that I can have a conversation with someone just saying this movie's lines. Years later, and to me the Mel Brooks cult classic still in my eyes hasn't been topped.
