The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977)

My Review

“The Kentucky Fried Movie” is an anthology film made up of 26 separate comedy sketches satirizing various aspects of the entertainment business. This was the debut motion picture of writers Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker, who would go on to create similar projects like “Airplane!” (1980) and “Top Secret” (1984). This was also director John Landis’ second film and first commercial success.

The cast includes Bill Bixby, George Lazenby, Donald Sutherland, Henry Gibson, Evan C. Kim, Bong Soo Han, Gwen Van Dam, Sheila Rogers, Marilyn Joi, and Tony Dow reprising his old role of Wally Cleaver from the “Leave It to Beaver” television sitcom (1957-1963). Jerry Zucker played Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver. The bottom line is that poor writing and liberal use of bad language makes “The Kentucky Fried Movie” an unwatchable film. However, there were some laughs and it was a hit at the box office for producer Robert K. Weiss and the United Film Distribution Company.