It’s been 25 years since Mel Brooks’ sci-fi spoof “Spaceballs” came out in theaters. The film wasn’t exactly critically acclaimed when it was released, mostly because “Spaceballs” goes for easier and cheaper laughs than Brooks’ earlier work. The general consensus of “Spaceballs” is that the sets, gags, and effects are low-tech, though I wonder if much of that attitude comes from the film’s popularity mostly coming from home video viewing. Luckily for us in Austin, the Alamo Drafthouse is putting on 35mm screenings to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the film, and its newly remastered, blu-ray release. There’s something about seeing a movie on the big screen, even an old one like this, which really drives home what it does well in the format it was designed for.

That’s not to say that the film’s weaknesses are forgivable on the big screen. The things that I was able to look past as a kid, because I didn’t understand, is hard to forgive. There is a noticeable presence of ethnic and racial stereotyping for the sake of cheap laughs, but this isn’t new for Brooks’ comedic tastes. He smooths some of this out by taking the same jokes at the expense of protagonists and antagonists, particularly in the case of his signature jabs at stereotyped Jewish mannerisms and culture.

As politically incorrect as the humor can be in “Spaceballs,” the timing of all of the jokes is really impressive. Brooks drives home his mastery of comedic timing from the very beginning of the movie as the giant Spaceballs ship floats across the screen for what feels like forever. The laughs in the audience at the Drafthouse drive home his toying with expectation is masterfully executed. Brooks’ set ups and payoffs of jokes throughout the movie are also very rewarding for the viewer. While Colonel Sanders is a funny name, Dark Helmet asking him if he’s chicken about 30 minutes later really drives it home. There is also a fair share of punning that watching alone is worth a chuckle or a nod, but in a theater full of movie lovers is cause for uproarious laughter.

Brooks also manages to find a way to poke fun, and poke holes, at the sci-fi blockbusters of the 80s. While the parody of “Star Wars” is the most obvious, there are noticeable references to “Star Trek,” “Alien,” and “2001: A Space Odyssey.” One of the most calculated aspects of these franchises are the function and/or malfunction of technology, and Brooks finds a way to expose the humor of technology that either doesn’t work or is operated by people too incompetent to use it effectively. And the central focus of the movie—oxygen, or lack thereof—is one of the biggest hurdles humanity faces out in outer space. The commodification of oxygen seems entirely reasonable, even if the giant atmospheric shield around Druidia is not.

While it’s a goofy parody, and some of the humor can feel forced (especially the self-referential jokes), “Spaceballs” holds up as a sci-fi parody that actually understands sci-fi more than it leads on. This movie is a fun watch at home with friends, but is immensely more rewarding to watch on the big screen with an audience full if cinephiles. Austin is so fortunate to have a theater like the Drafthouse that programs more than just the new releases.

You can catch “Spaceballs” at the Alamo Drafthouse this week, and the new 25th anniversary blu-ray release is out now. Buy local and pick up your copy at Waterloo!