The Kentucky Fried Movie

Unlike many similar movies in this genre from the 70s, Kentucky Fried Movie is generally comprised of vignettes that do not simply resort to mean-spirited and base jokes, such as those about bodily emanations and racial or ethnic stereotyping. Rather, the skits tend to have an almost "sweet" tone about them. They employ humor and gags not intended to offend, though they might, if handled by other writers, as the content can be pretty darned provocative.

Coming from me, this should mean a lot. My very own mother is depicted in the most-memorable "Catholic High School Girls in Trouble" segment: "Mrs. Burke" -- from the 1968 POST Grape-Nuts commercial -- played here by Gwen Van Dam. (You can see the real "Mrs. Burke" at the Burke Family Grape-Nuts Archives)

As the son of a most virtuous Catholic mother, herself quite unlike the character in this film, I might easily be offended. Yet, in this case, I feel honored to see my mom's name roll in the credits of this clever flick.

Many of the skits are excellent. The much praised piece, "A Fistful of Yen" (the spoof on Bruce Lee's classic "Enter the Dragon"), is so well done, it truly merits the distinction, "a must see."

I would certainly recommend this film to any adult who is not likely to be offended by nudity and sexual themes. It's a lot of fun!

Adam Burke

"Kentucky Fried Movie" is tasteless, unsophisticated, and decidedly sophomoric... and one of the most hilarious films ever made! A string of politically incorrect segments made by the creators of "Airplane!" and "The Naked Gun", "KFM" is an "R"-rated romp that today, nearly 30 years after its release, would be too shocking to even warrant the dreaded "NC-17" rating. Forget those unfunny amateurs Broken Lizard or the overrated Farrelly Brothers. We're talking naked breasts, oral sex, racial slurs, violence... and yet each segment leaves you delirious from not only laughter but disbelief at the fact that the Zuckers actually go away with all this. I've discovered that it really takes a certain kind of innocence to make a movie like "KFM", a naive belief that people will simply laugh at the crude spectacle of it all. Segments include a wholesome couple listening to a 1950s style "how-to" record on foreplay (wait till you see what the record comes equipped with), a thrill seeker whose trademark stunt is going to a crowd of black men and yelling out the N-word (how bold is this scene? No one has dared imitate it since), and a political debate between two analysts that ends with one of them cheerfully telling the other to "blow it out your a**" and giving them the finger. The highlight is the mini-movie within the movie, "A Fistful of Yen". A parody of all the Bruce Lee films, its hero, Loo, fights the evil Klahn, a one-armed criminal mastermind with a fondness for the phrase "extraordinary magnitude". It also pokes fun at the endless fights from the Lee films, as well as the characters' fractured English (little trivia, the actors really were Asian and spoke poor English in real life, so it wasn't intentional on their parts) The twist ending of "Yen" is one of the goofiest things you ever saw in your life. Despite the often offensive humor of "KFM", it's not a mean film by any means. No one is really safe from the wacky chaos it inflicts, and it's just hilarious. In our time of hand-wringing political correctness, "KFM" offers a cathartic experience of laughing out loud at our fears, prejudices, and, yes, stupidity. This is indeed a finger-lickin' good comedy.

Some of this is still jaw droopingly funny even if some isn't, but overall it's always trying something wacky so even if a sketch doesn't work it's not on screen for too long. Loads of nudity and tastelessness, this is a chance to see the Zucker's early work and still worth seeing.

A movie that is a collection of short sketches is bound to be uneven, and the Kentucky Fried Movie is no exception. However, this movie shows the brilliance of Zucker/Zucker/Abrahams that would become Airplane, Top Secret, Naked Gun, etc...

If viewed in the context of the 70's this movie is simply hilarious... If you're too young to tell the difference between the 1970's and the 1870's then a lot of this movie will go over your head. However I still recommend a rental. Even if you've never seen 'Enter the Dragon' the parody 'A Fistful of Yen' will make you laugh.

From "Catholic High School Girls in Trouble" to "Big Jim Slade" to the wonderful Lysol commercial parody, this movie is simple comedic genius... To this day certain parts make me nearly wet myself....

If you like satire and/or parody... The Kentucky Fried Movie is a must see. While viewing, keep an eye open for jokes and bits that will appear in later Zucker/Zucker/Abrahams movies....

My vote 8/10 (but I'm a big Airplane! fan)

Incredibly funny movie that gets off to a slow start, but once you stick with it, it will probably be one of the funnier movies you will ever see. Especially if you grew up in the 1970s. This movie played at our college and the next day the theater was required by the dean's office to issue an apology in the college paper. This movie has a lot of sexual content that ticked somebody off, I guess. This would make an excellent double feature with the earlier "Groove Tube" so you can see just what Saturday Night Live and other shows like that were trying to accomplish. 1970s adult film star Uschi Digart does a cameo during a shower scene that will not soon be forgotten once seen. Many, many cameos to look for including Donald Sutherland, Bill Bixby and on and on. The highlight of the movie is a mini-film called "A Fistful of Yen" which is a spot-on parody of Bruce Lee's "Enter The Dragon". Imagine Bruce Lee getting the treatment by the people behind "Airplane" and you get the idea. If you are in a silly mood this si a movie worth getting. Being that it was made in the 1970s, I suppose being stoned would make this movie an absolute laugh-riot.