‘Saturday Night Live – Halloween’ is frighteningly funny (review)

Rent it from DVD NetflixIf you’re more into treats than tricks, or a pleasant combination of the two, consider checking out “Saturday Night Live – Halloween.” Featuring a compilation of festive skits, there’s a varied selection from different eras, with many familiar characters. It’s honestly one of the greatest amalgamations of SNL material, and a well-needed reminder of how funny the show was in its prime. Laugh out loud hysterical, and highly watchable, “Saturday Night Live – Halloween” is as sure as trick or treaters to make an appearance each October.
For holidays, Saturday Night Live celebrates with themed shows, and this collection of skits is perfect. It opens with Chevy Chase’s Land Shark, and the obligatory “live, from New York, it’s Saturday night!” While each segment is essentially one of SNL’s best, we’ll touch on the highlights. The Wayne’s World sketch is riotously funny, not only for the lovable characters Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey), but also the pop culture references. These serve as an auditory time capsule, dating the skit.

Ana Gasteyer’s Martha Stewart Living is on point, with ridiculous decorations including the flaming bag of poop. Fan favorite Matt Foley (Chris Farley) returns, and easily is one of the top entries. Farley as usual provides more damage than help as the bumbling motivational speaker, and his beloved “van down by the river” tirade will bring tears of laughter. Rob Schneider gives a Halloween-themed Richmeister, commenting on costumes the entire time. Don’t we all wish we had a Rich Laymer in our office? Consumer Probe, with sleazy Irwin Mainway (Dan Aykroyd) and Joan Face (Jane Curtain) is similarly wonderful, featuring a festive costume lineup from Mainway. There’s also a really clever Spartan Squad skit with host Neve Campbell that parodies “Scream,” in which Campbell starred.

What makes “Saturday Night Live – Halloween” terrific is the replay value. It’s the kind of video you can watch annually, and no matter how many times you’ve seen each sketch, you’ll still chortle uncontrollably. SNL masterfully concocted a recipe containing Halloween-themed favorites, and revisiting this collection feels like visiting with old friends. The true testament to a joke’s lasting quality is knowing the punchline and still laughing, and SNL’s Halloween assembly delivers. A wonderful October tradition, “Saturday Night Live – Halloween” is scarily uproarious.