More than 40 years after Moses dropped the three stone tablets of The Fifteen Commandments—”Oy! Ten! Ten commandments for all to obey!”—in History of the World, Part I, Mel Brooks is back for a long-awaited follow-up to his seminal 1981 film. History of the World, Part II, airing on Hulu on March 6-9, arrives in a “woke” America. But for Brooks, anything and anybody is still fair game. Sort of. After more than six years of heightened political and social unrest, dwindling civil rights, and extreme divisiveness in America, many folks seem to be walking around on eggshells. See the comedy of Chris Rock: Selected Outrage or Sebastian Maniscalco’s Is It Me? for reference.
Entertainers, especially comics, have felt the brunt of these changing times. Clever jokes and parodies—something Brooks mastered—were more easily accepted and understood in context 40 years ago when the first History dropped. Today… maybe not so much. And you can feel some of that strain while watching History of the World, Part II.
Creatively speaking, “history” doesn’t always repeat itself in History of the World, Part II. You don’t get the consistent “high” you felt while experiencing the first outing. Still, for diehard Mel Brooks fans—those who understand the genius behind Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, High Anxiety, Silent Movie, and even Spaceballs—the new outing is downright fun, often fresh, and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. Each episode features a variety of sketches that take audiences through different periods of human history. While it occasionally stumbles—some may love Galileo as a “TicciTocci” (ahem, TikTok) influencer, or not—this is still a worthy ride to take. So, what stands out this time around?
Bring on the Sketches
Brooks, now 96 and, rightly so, a comedy legend, writes and executive produces on History of the World, Part II, along with Nick Kroll (Human Resources, The League), Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws, Velma, Black-ish), Ike Barinholtz (Suicide Squad, The Mindy Project), and David Stassen (The Mindy Project, Central Intelligence). The addition of Kroll, Sykes, and Stassen’s artistic styles are peppered throughout History’s eight episodes. Along with Kroll and Stassen, the inventive writing team and directors includes Alice Mathias and Lance Bangs. Brooks himself, aside from voiceovers and a few humorous cameos that are best experienced rather than reveled here, is physically absent from this History version.
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There are meta jokes aplenty, a bevy of sketches, and countless guest appearances throughout. Seth Rogen dials it in playing Noah—the ark bit doesn’t quite land. Jay Ellis is a worthy if not dreamy Jesus Christ, bringing Kroll along as Judas in humorous sketches that span the course of the eight episodes. On that front, Zazie Beetz is a groovy Mary Magdalene, particularly so when the writers spin the Jesus and the Gang theme they’ve already established over the course of several episodes. It’s inventive, clever, and downright hilarious. Meanwhile, Barinholtz, typically engaging and always fun to watch, plays a liquored-up Ulysses S. Grant here in ongoing sketches that feel forced, played too broad, and just never really fly.
Those looking to follow a linear timeline may need to lower their expectations. History of the World, Part II, like its predecessor, bounces around time periods. It’s all good, though. Keeping things fluid has worked well for Brooks in the past. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Still, some sketches stand out more than others.
Best Bets in History of the World, Part II
Hulu
Not surprisingly, considering they are the producers, some of the best parts of History of the World, Part II feature Nick Kroll and Wanda Sykes—Kroll steps in for Brooks throughout, doing a lot of the Mel Brooks “heavy lifting” in gags. But nearly every sketch Sykes is in is a delight, featuring her in grounded performances that land well—she never plays things too broadly, a good thing. This is most noticeable in the sketch “sitcom” Shirley, where Sykes morphs in Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman to campaign for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 1972. Cue: canned laugh tracks and an intentional wink to “educate” audiences of Chisholm’s bold decision some 50 years ago, and you get a nice balance of humor and reprieve from the other sketches. Elsewhere, Sykes also plays Harriet Tubman in fine form.
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Other noteworthy turns here include Dove Cameron (Schmigadoon!, Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D) as Princess Anastasia. Imagine if the youngest daughter of Nicholas II took Russia by storm via social media, always signing off with “war and peace.” It would have been nice to see more of Jake Johnson’s Marco Polo, but what we’re offered of the otherwise fiery actor will suffice. Kroll, Pamela Adlon (Better Things), and Riverdale’s Charles Melton—ripped abs in tow—reappear in an ongoing sketch that is best to just experience yourself. What fun. They deliver classic laughs and Adlon is a delight throughout.
Shorter, unserialized, sketches are sprinkled throughout History of the World, Part II, of course. Some will delight—we’re talking about you, Hitler on Ice. Overall, classic laughs are delivered throughout, all of which tend to make you want to come back for more. Part III, anyone? For those hoping to get a real history lesson, best to head to Cunk on Earth, where Philomena Cunk offers a brilliant blend of humor and, well, actual history.
Still, 42 years after the first History dropped, it’s nice to experience the Mel Brooks we all love and know. In History of the World, Part II, the comedy legend delivers an embraceable sketch/parody series just when we all need could use a good laugh.
Catch History of the World, Part II, on Hulu, beginning March 6.
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