Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, a scheming theatrical producer and his mousy accountant, hit upon the perfect plan to embezzle a fortune: raise far more money than you need to produce a sure-fire Broadway flop and then (since no one will expect anything back), Max and Leo can pocket the difference. To do this, they need the ultimate bad play, which they find in the musical Springtime for Hitler. Their plans come to naught and the duo are taken completely by surprise when their new production is hailed as a toast-of-the-town hit.

When will Hollywood ever learn, a comedy can contain its fair share of sexual humor and crudeness but if that is all the movie is it will never be a comedy that is remembered through the ages. We saw all the crude movies this year from Wedding Crashers to the 40 Year Old Virgin and while we may have laughed hard the first time these movies they easily lost their appeal in just the second viewing and they weren’t nearly as funny. The Producers is old school funny, its more slapstick and while it has its fair share of sexual references the movie doesn’t need them to sell itself. The movie is about a two guys who scheme to make the worst Broadway play ever and hilarity ensues, and it’s a remake to boot and still holding its own after all these years. The movie reminded me of old Three Stooges shorts and Marx Brothers skits rather than a modern day comedy and it was refreshing to have a movie that was funny from its material rather than its situations. Mel Brooks in his early days as a producer and writer had his knack for comedies that were slightly edgy but at the same time very funny this may be the best work he ever wrote and he did it during the 1960’s. You will laugh so hard it hurts as the only time the movie slows down is during some of the musical and dancing bits but it comes roaring back with a vengeance time and time again.

One of the scariest things that this movie may have produced may be a nomination for and Oscar by Will Ferrell for best supporting actor. It’s not that he doesn’t deserve it because he does he is absolutely hilarious in the movie and it is by far his best movie ever its just a scary thought for me that Will Ferrell could have an Oscar on his mantle. The saddest thing the movie may produced is that Matthew Broderick may have finally shed his Ferris Bueller character that has haunted his career but it took him getting old and a little pudgy around the middle to do it. This too may be his best performance of his career as he carries the first half of the movie tell he gets help from Will Ferrell and Gary Beach who come on to add their own hilarity. Its not that I didn’t like Nathan Lane because I thought he did a fabulous job as well its just that there was so many other grander and greater roles going on around him. He fit nicely and the only question in casting would have been Uma Thurman who does a good job but not a great one like most of her fellow actors. This movie is the best comedy of 2005, it is funny, it is witty and it is timeless.
4.5 stars out of 5