Love at Stake (1987) User Reviews (13)

You can't go wrong with witch hunting.

[lost-in-limbo · 6/10 · 3 November 2006]

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.

Hit or Miss

[Uriah43 · 5/10 · 18 August 2013]

In an attempt to acquire land so that they can enhance their fortunes, the mayor and judge of Salem, Massachusets decide to accuse certain landowners of witchcraft. What neither "Mayor Upton" (Dave Thomas) nor "Judge Samuel John" (Stuart Pankin) realize is that a real witch named "Faith Stewart" (Barbara Carrera) has just arrived from London and has her own agenda which is furthered by the mass hysteria. Anyway, this was one of those comedies that is pretty much hit or miss. Some parts were hilarious. Other parts not so much. Personally, I liked the performance of "Parson Babcock" (Bud Cort) the best. Additionally, having attractive actresses like Kelly Preston (as "Sara Lee") and the aforementioned Barbara Carrera in the movie didn't hurt either. On the other hand, the character named "Nathaniel" (David Graf) was much too vulgar in my opinion and along with some of the other worn-out gags by other actors really diminished the overall film. All things considered then I rate this as about average.

Pure, simple, simplemindedness ........

[merklekranz · 6/10 · 15 April 2020]

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

A comedy that truly works!

[MattWFuller · 13 August 2002]

I remember liking this film when I was a child, and with very good reason. "Love at Stake" is a comedy that continues rolling out the laughs in each and every scene. Film was written by two former writers for the original Saturday Night Live variety show, and the film was directed by a man who later went on to direct episodes of the Cult Comedy favorite "Mr. Show." Film includes an excellent cast, including Dave Thomas from "SCTV" and Bud Cort from "Harold and Maude" fame. Actress Ann Ramsy also makes a hilarious appearance as an old witch. Film is essentially a spoof of the Salem Witch Trials, which makes it a fairly interest bit of history to tackle as a comedic feature. I would also like to add that this film is highly original, and, of course, they just don't make them like this any longer.

Sail em' right out of the movie business.

[mark.waltz · 2/10 · 10 July 2022]

Only on occasion having anything remotely funny on the level of Mel Brooks or Monty Python or any of the great spoof film makers, this is about as funny as cleaning up the ashes after someone is wrongly burnt as a witch. There's a lot of talent about, but you don't see the talent because they're having to deal with a very unfunny script, outlandishly stupid in nature, thinking that if you speak in modern lingo in a time long past, that people are going to laugh out of the irony of it. Like she did with "The Wicked Stepmother", Barbara Carrera is a beautiful witch who has an alternate look. Instead of Bette Davis, here it's Anne Ramsey, getting lots of work after her success as Mama the previous year.

The comedy is so obvious this that there are more groans than giggles, chuckles or smirks, with modern references mistaken for something that would automatically be funny in context with the plot. That screams desperation to me, and instantly dated it. Watch this after watching "Young Frankenstein" or "High Anxiety" or "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", and the evidence of what makes good comedy just piles up.

This is TV sitcom style comedy on the big screen, and that medium doesn't always work when looking a hundred times larger. Even on home video it fails. The VHS of this barely moved off the new release shelf when it was first released, and had more dust than Salem did witch ashes six months after it moved into general rental. The actors try, but none of them really seem extremely comfortable with the material, as if they knew deep down that it was going to bomb and just decided to up-play the silliness to the point where it just comes off as rude and obnoxious. With money at stake, "Love at Stake" was handed the noose the moment it left the lab.

A hilariously raucous and original comedy blast

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 6 November 2006]

When it comes to gleefully broad, bawdy, lowbrow "Mad" magazine-style "to hell with good taste and proper decorum"-like zany goofball humor, this unfairly overlooked late 80's period horror comedy riot really takes the splendidly sophomoric cake, ravenously gobbles it up with a commendable lack of subtlety and restraint, and vomits it back up all over the audience with an outrageously deviant gleam in its winningly nutty eye.

1692, the time of the Salem Witch trials: The local rigid, repressive, morally upright and seriously uptight god-fearing puritan residents of a small New England hamlet are whipped up into a furious witch-burning frenzy by the cunning money-grubbing judge Stuart Pankin and insatiably lascivious idiot mayor Dave Thomas (the latter's hilarious portrayal of a leering, terminally on-the-make sleazy politician uncannily foretells former President Bill Clinton's notorious skirt-chasing antics). Little do the gullible townspeople know that both Hizzoners are behind a sneaky real estate scheme; they're manipulating the yokels to barbecue certain folks so they can confiscate their land and make a bundle selling it at the highest possible price (yep, there's some spot-on stinging satire on 80's yuppie corporate greed and self-serving amorality run grossly amok, plus lots of similarly on-target sideswipes at the religious right's expense, what with all the townspeople being exposed as boozing, whoring, two-faced hypocrites). Moreover, real-life lusty, man-eating witch Faith (the ever-ravishing Barbara Carrera camping and vamping it up like nobody's business) takes advantage of the mass hysteria by making sweet innocent baker Sara (a radiant Kelly Preston) look like a witch so she can have her salacious way with Sara's klutzy, but hunky husband-to-be (amiable doofus Patrick Cassidy).

Director John Moffit cranks up the uproariously lewd, silly, most politically incorrect and hence quite delightful poor taste buffoonery to the marvelously brash and dippy max, joyously stooping to many howl-inducing lows for the sake of a solid cheap laugh. Wimpy mama's boy priest Bud Cort goes blind and does a wicked Ray Charles impersonation. Puritans roast hot dogs while burning witches at the stake. A man cursed with flatulence backfires like crazy in a crowded church; the same guy later has sex with a turkey (!) and commits suicide. Sara's breads and cakes take on the obscene shapes of large breasts and erect penises. A Thanksgiving diner degenerates into a boisterous wild party complete with drinking, dancing, pot-smoking, and "Louie, Louie" blasting on the soundtrack. A tavern holds New England clam chowder women's wrestling matches. A solemn funeral procession gets rudely disrupted by a stray cat. Dr. Joyce Brothers is branded a heretic at a witch trial when she diagnoses the puritans as paranoid, homicidal, sexually frustrated lunatics! My favorite gag has the delectable Barbara Carrera transforming into the spectacularly ugly and haggish Anne Ramsey, whose remarkable resemblance to a squat, gnarled, unsightly garden gnome is ingeniously taken advantage of here. Okay, so this ain't exactly a highly insightful and sophisticated work of refined cinematic art, but it's definitely rowdy, wacky, amusing and above all irreverent enough to still earn this particular reviewer's seal of approval.

great fun

[msultan · 4 July 2003]

I haven't seen this in a while, but I remember watching it over and over again for a while. It's a wonderful spoof situated at the time of the Salem Witch Trials, full of anachronisms and humor. Plus it's a cute love story.

this was original and disgustingly funny

[eth8wly · 8/10 · 22 May 2005]

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.

Hilarious

[P3charmed · 18 June 2003]

I saw this movie about 4 years ago, and it still is on my top ten movies that are truely funny and made me laugh out loud.

Everything in it is just off centre and it's a perfect setting for a comedy.

Don't just sit there, join the club! Sell your soul to Beelzebub!

[Hey_Sweden · 8/10 · 1 September 2012]

Wacky and wonderful comedy spoofing the Salem Witch Trials of the 17th century in the great Mel Brooks tradition. It really is a shame this movie isn't better known because it really is rather good. A great cast makes the most out of the material, as two crooked officials, a judge (Stuart Pankin) and mayor (Dave Thomas) scheme to get their hands on the property of their citizens by falsely accusing them of witchcraft and having them burnt at the stake. Caught up in the shenanigans are endearing young couple Miles (Patrick Cassidy) and Sara (as in baker Sara Lee), played by Kelly Preston. Meanwhile, a genuine witch named Faith, played by the smoking hot Barbara Carrera, arrives in town and stirs up some trouble. This slice of history may strike some as an odd choice of material to lampoon, but it does work, as the stiflingly puritan attitudes of the townspeople contrast with the sleazy goings on. The obvious anachronisms are a hoot to behold, and incidental jokes also help in the entertainment value, as for one thing, when the citizens have dinner with the local Indians, and people get high on peace pipe smoke, we hear music more appropriate for East Indian characters. In one very weird but inspired touch, a deputy speaks doing a Don Knotts impression, and the actor in the role does a good job. There is lots of energy, both in the presentation and in the performances. The huffy Pankin and the horny Thomas are particularly funny, and the enticing Carrera is very easy to watch. The long list of capable performers also includes Bud Cort ("Harold & Maude") as the parson who goes blind, singer Annie Golden as Abigail, David Graf (a.k.a. Tackleberry from the "Police Academy" franchise) as her husband Nathaniel, the incomparable Anne Ramsey as an old witch, and none other than Dr. Joyce Brothers, who takes the stand at Sara's trial, in her defense, and is branded a heretic when she utters psychological explanations that the townspeople don't want to hear. The trial also gets simply hysterical when that rap number breaks out. Now, some of the humour is obvious, like playing upon the word "pussy", but for the most part this is irresistible stuff with some decent slapstick gags and some priceless lines of dialogue. Fans of Brooks's films and the actors involved really should give it a look. Eight out of 10.

funny stuff

[chewmanchew · 5 August 2004]

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!

Weird and a bit outside, but loads of fun.

[Razbitom · 16 October 2000]

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.

Creative witch comedy

[lor_ · 20 April 2023]

My review was written in May 1987 after a Cannes Film Festival Market screening.

"Burnin' Love" is a far-out, irreverent sendup of the Salem Witch trials that packs plenty of laughs for its targeted Mel Brooks audience.

Producer Michael Gruskoff has worked with Brooks on several features and the influence shows. Besides the patented "Blazing Saddles" brand of flatulence humor there is a healthy respect for slapstick and vulgarity here, sometimes missing the mark but often scoring. John Moffitt, a tv grad, pilots with aplomb and Terrence Sweeney and Lanier Laney's screenplay is chock full of clever anachronisms.

Patrick Cassidy and Kelly Preston are well cast as idealized young loves in 1692 Salem, caught up in the witch hunt hysteria created by the unscrupulous town judge (Stuart Pankin) and mayor (Dave Thomas, using just a trace of his patented Bob Hope impression) who are burning landowners as witches in order to confiscate their property as part of a real estate development scheme.

A real witch (Barbara Carrera, deliciously sexy) shows up and accuses Preston of the crime in order to take Cassidy for herself. In the manner of "Tom Jones", which remains the template for these period tales (right down to Carrera's plunging decolletage), Georgia Brown as a local tavern owner shows up in court to reveal Preston's actual parentage and save the day.

Cast excels in this romp, with many outstanding turns. Bud Cort gets some big laughs as the local parson who is struck blind by Carrera (similar to Elizabeth Montgomery's tv witch on "Bewitched", she just has to squint to work magic), while Audrie Neenan as his crusty old mama steals many a scene using a voice like Margaret Hamilton's. Pankin and Thomas make a comfortable team of bumbling villains in powdered wigs while Cassidy and Preston are effective butts of many physical gags as the too-good leads.

Period feel is captured well on Canadian locations, with a satirical music score by Charles Fox ramming home the jokes (plus some outlandish touches such as The Kingsmen's hit "Louie, Louie" playing at Thanksgiving Dinner after the Indians pass around the peace pipe).