Love at Stake

Its 1692, the judge and mayor of Salem team up to take over the town's land by starting up witch hunts which leaves vacant properties. The plan is going real well, when suddenly a real witch, Faith, for witchcraft, accuses the innocent Sara Lee. She uses this as a chance to get to her boyfriend Miles, but he stands by Sara and tries his best to convince the town she's no witch.

"Love at Stake" is a reasonably obscure and small-scale b-grade spoof that amusingly sends up the infamous Salem witch trails with quick fire gags and lowbrow tone. There's a certain Zucker and Abraham style (think of Airplane & Top Secret!) about this comedy. It even has a touch of Monty Python about it. The martial has a cheeky hit and miss self-mockery about itself, but it's always on the move and there are some inspired lines of dialogue. The corny premise is quite an original take with plenty of zing and a playfully raunchy touch. There's plenty of room for minor jokes to feed off the major one. It can get infantile and crass, but the superb cast upped the material to another level with their blinding chemistry and well-timed performances. Stuart Pankin and Dave Thomas were sensational as the two weasels, Judge John and Mayor Upton. They clicked when they came together. Kelly Preston was delightfully sweet and very effective in her role as Sara and Patrick Cassidy fitted perfectly as her concerned boyfriend Miles. A fickle turn by Bud Cort had me snickering quite a bit as the blind Parson Babcock and an alluring Barbara Carrera turns heads as the voluptuous witch Faith. It's directed with a lot of ticker by Saturday Night Live's John Moffitt. Which it's a shame that it goes by unnoticed.

A fun flick with energetic performances, but in the long run it's still a forgettable spoof. Well worth a look though.

Throw your brain out the window, and you might get some chuckles from "Love at Stake", although it definitely will appeal more to the "Saturday Night Live" crowd, than those seeking a semblance of historical reality. It's extremely scattershot, with a hit or miss barrage of witch jokes revolving around town folk who could barely write their name in the dirt with a stick. Enter Witch Barbara Carrera and her push up brassiere. She is none other than Ann Ramsey in disguise, which further complicates the land grab scheme of the Judge and Mayor. Obviously this is not "Gone With the Wind" and should tickle the funny bone of those willing to wade through the simpleminded script to uncover a few gold nuggets. - MERK

This movie is hilarious! I can't believe it only rated 4.8/10! This is definitely a "B" movie, but there are a lot of very good "B" movies out there. I mean, every scene is funny. Anyone who enjoys "neo-slapstick" comedy should LOVE this, especially fans of Monthy Python, the "Fletch" movies, or even Benny Hill, will love this movie! And hey, it has John Travolta's wife in it & Barbara Carerra (sic?)! Not to mention, "Doug" McKenzie from the Great White North. I can definitely tell there is some SNL influence here. The old lady (mother of the struck-blind preacher) is hilarious, not to mention the songs! Definitely rent this movie if you haven't seen it. And if you have, BUY IT, if you can find it!

This is a great film for fans of cheesy humor. The acting is sometimes questionable, but the experience and laughter is well worth putting up with it. If you enjoy films like "The Pirate Movie" and "Airplane" then this film is for you. It even has the pre-requisite Dr. Joyce Brothers cameo.

this was one of the last original funny movies of our time, and if you have not seen it, go out and do it. the acting is spectacular, the jokes could not be any funnier, and this woman has this thing with calling her cat pussy that generates much laughter. if you like to watch MADTV and SNL, then you would like this one. the salem witch trials are not getting any funnier, so rent this movie at once!! you will find the sort of jokes you find in mel brooks movies, like "spaceballs" and "history of the world", but surprisingly Brooks had nothing to do with this flick. what's great is that modernness is brought into this film, with a sexy witch and women suspiciously performing a rap. the power of the witch generates laughter that only you the viewer can laugh at.