While the latest season of Saturday Night Live has so far been a mixed bag of the good, the bad, and the “why the hell is Miley Cyrus here again?,” it has found plenty of success when it comes to pre-made digital shorts that poke fun at some of pop culture’s other big obsessions. While the Girls parody trailer rung our bells earlier this season, this past weekend’s send-up of Wes Anderson films (and, more specifically, one that addresses what would happen if Wes Anderson directed a horror film) is not only the funnier of the two, it’s one of the funniest things they’ve done as of late.
Our own Scott Beggs shared the fake trailer for The Midnight Coterie of Sinister Intruders earlier today (you can catch up on it HERE), and while we’re still chuckling over its “critical lauds” (including a hilarious bit that shouts out our pals at Fangoria, who so amusingly penned a review to go along with it, a must-read you can check out HERE), we decided to do some digging for a few other parodies to keep the laughs flowing. While the SNL trailer may well be the Wes Anderson parody out there, it’s certainly not the only one, and if you’re suddenly ravenous for more adorably twee takes on the director’s oeuvre, we’ve lined up a few for you to enjoy after the break. Grab your kitten in a basket, best sweatband, and your Rushmore pin collection and take a look.
Wes Anderson’s American Express Ad
Anderson directed his own spin on a parody ad back in 2004 for American Express, using some of his usual suspects, a trademark font, and plenty of witty banter we’ve come to expect from the filmmaker. One of the best AmEx ads ever, it’s also one of Anderson’s best commercial works, and it shows that he’s got a damn firm handle on all of the stuff that marks his personal style (and that he knows it’s sometimes worth laughing at).
Wes Anderson’s Softbank Commercial
Another Anderson original that pokes serious fun at his own style, this Brad Pitt-starring commercial for Japanese mobile company Softbank (not a bank, too weird) doesn’t really make a lick of sense, but it’s cute and charming and weird and it even features some well-placed nudity. If there’s any debate that Anderson can’t self-parody, this commerical sews that argument right up.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Ad Parody
This one get points for commitment (actual hair-cutting) and style (it looks so much like The Royal Tenenbaums that the majority of its runtime could work just as well as a fan spoof of the feature). It’s also deeply weird and creep-up-on-you funny.
John McCain Campaign Ad
Worth watching for its first five seconds alone, which perfectly capture the tone, tenor, and style of plenty of interactions between Anderson’s character. The rest of the parody may not feel as inspired, but that unique idea and stellar start still make it a viable entry (it’s also less than a minute long, so come on).
The First Grade Journal of Ramsey
Skip both the first and last forty-five seconds of this one, and you’ll be treated with a pitch perfect send up of Anderson’s earlier films, like the creamy delicious center of a fresh Oreo cookie. Director and star Ramsey Ess might have his own tics to get rid of, but his understanding of how to make an Andersonian scene work is pretty solid, and the result is a very funny mini-scene.
Wes Anderson’s Audition Tape for Star Wars: Episode VII
Conan O’Brien and his team broke this one out last year (can you believe it’s been an entire year since we learned that we’d be getting new Star Wars film? We digress), and it’s a perfect combination of Anderson tropes and classic Star Wars gags. And Chewbacca on a motorcycle with Han in the sidecar? Too good.
