So much fun. The only problem with this was that I had to stop reading it while on a - wait for it - airplane because I was laughing so hard/loud.

The movie was a huge part of my teenage—hood and a major influence on my sense of humor.

Finding out the utter madness involved in making it and the obsessive attention to detail even a fan like me didn’t notice was a revelation.

The book is not chronological, it jumps around, so be prepared for that. But the stories are wonderful. These are guys devoted to filmmaking, even at times when they probably really shouldn’t. have.

If you’ve seen the movie you know all the quotes and probably know many of the behind the scenes stories. My favorite was probably finding out that not only did Barbara Billingsley take the time to learn the fake “jive,” she stated in touch with the guys and supported them in later performances. I love that.

Mandatory for any fan, or would-be indie filmmaker.

This really isn’t a book about the making of the film “Airplane!” Instead, it’s a collection of interviews of people both in and impacted by the movie. The "story" of making this movie has no compelling, overarching narrative which makes this more like a fan collectible than a true novel. Things improve near the end when post production is detailed.

If you’re a fan of “Airplane!” then this book is a scrapbook of remembrances from those involved. There are lots of picture and testimonials from famous fans, but if you’re looking for a book to actually sit down and read, these are mere transcripts from interview sessions.

I wasn't sure if this was going to be a deep dive into the behind the scenes happenings or a tabloid level story, but its good to say that this was definitely not a tabloid article.

It was however, hard to read.

It just didn't flow well, but now I can say I know a Check of a lot of details about the movie and the people behind it.

It's amazing this movie ever managed to be made but if you loved Airplane! the movie, you'll enjoy the journey. It was fun to learn that, yes, Leslie Nelson was as funny on set as he was on screen. An interesting anecdote is at the jive language was rewritten by the actors who spoke it. Honestly I think the book is too much fun to spoil by sharing much. It's a funny and revealing read it that rambles quite a bit, so be prepared to get deep into the weeds, but it's worth it. I received this Advanced Reader Copy of Surely You Can't Be Serious from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Free e-book, review is my own.

This is one of my all time favorite movies. I watched this with my Grandma at least once a week and its still a go to movie. I loved seeing all the behind the scenes details and how it came to production. Would recommend to other fans! Loved the mixed media and how entertaining each page was.

This book was hysterically funny--I remember the movie well, and learning how the three producers (THREE!) got this amazing serious cast together and got this movie off the ground was well worth the seat time! It's almost magical how it all came together, and that serious actors such as Leslie Nielsen (who is of course remembered as a major comedy star now) created such a comedic tour de force! I enjoyed this book so much that I immediately bought a copy for my brother's birthday, because I knew he would enjoy the "making of" and the magic behind the movie, both the technical details and the history of how it came to be, as much as I did. 10/10 would recommend! Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader's copy. Please note my review is independent and my opinions are my own.

If you love the movie Airplane, you'll love this recounting of behind the scenes laughs and hijinks even more! A light read that will cheer you up instantly. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This is such a great book, full of photos from the production and stories from the producers. Lots of inside stories, including that the "Jive Lady" played by Barbara Billingsly was originally offered as a part to Harriet Nelson, but she turned down the role because she felt odd about swearing on camera. Afterwards she admitted turning down the role was a mistake!

Would you believe that today there are people who didn't know Lloyd Bridges or Leslie Nielsen were both originally dramatic actors? That's all because of AIRPLANE.

Fans of the film should love, but there are just some really funny stories here that will make anyone laugh.

Great behind the scenes look about one of my favorite comedies. It’s such a classic movie and reading how it was made was so interesting.

Surely You Can't Be Serious is a nonfiction book about the making of the 1980 movie. Airplane! is pretty much the one comedy movie that I actually really like and rewatch consistently, so I thought it would be fun to learn more about how the movie was made!

If you are a big Airplane! fan like me, I highly recommend reading this book! I knew nothing about how the film was made and was not alive when it was premiered, so I had no idea what the reaction was, or really what movies were like at the time. This book gave a lot of context to the jokes and characters. It was also really interesting to hear the long road the directors had to make the movie. I wasn't super interested in their work before the movie so more skimmed through those sections, which worked pretty well.

Overall, definitely read this book if you're interested in the movie! 4 stars from me. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the electronic advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Airplane is one of the most insane movies I have ever watched. It's chock-full of things that would never fly today while never being insulting or demeaning. It's just fun despite it feeling like it shouldn't be.
This book is the story of three friends who had a good idea and some luck on their side to get it made. It wasn't an easy thing and they had to fight for the chance, but it sounds like they had a lot of fun along the way.
Ultimately, it's not as funny to hear about a hilarious movie getting made as it is to watch it, but reading about the enthusiasm and energy that went into making it was a different type of joy. You get excited right along with the creators and creatives who had a hand in making it.
It's also an incredibly interesting and different view of how movies got made in the 70s/80s. Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker had zero knowledge about movies but a great desire to get their silly movie made. The steps they took were unconventional and a lot of it was straight-up serendipitous, and I feel like that's something that comes through in the movie.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the entertaining read!

My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book and the making of this movie, as this is a very popular movie and one of my dad's favorite movies, I remember when he came to the theaters to watch this with my Mom and me. The actors that played in the movie are iconic. Lots of funny behind-the-scenes information and pictures.

Pick this book up, you will enjoy it!! :)

Are you a fan of the movie Airplane! ? If you are, then you need to read this book. With details that no one else could have, this is THE book about the movie and the stories behind the movie and the men behind it. I so enjoyed this book, that I told everyone I know about this book!

Princess Fuzzypants here: My family are all big movie fans. We love movies and thus, I am often lured to read books about the making of films I have enjoyed. I have never enjoyed one of those books more than this one. Two brothers and a friend who began to collaborate in making people laugh in university went on the write and direct one of the funniest movies ever. More than forty years later, people still riff the lines. Up until that time, there was nothing like it and since then most similar efforts have been pale imitations.

What made this book so delightful was it was set up like a discussion. One thought or vignette led naturally into the next until the whole tale was told. I suspect the greatest test of a “making of” book is whether the reader wants to pull out the movie and see it again. We will be pulling out Airplane as soon as possible.

Thanks for a fun movie and thanks for a fun book. Five purrs and two paws up.

From their start through the creation of this comedy classic, Surely You Can't Be Serious interviews the writers, directors, actors, and others about the process and impact this movie had on so many. It's filled with interesting stories, funny banter, and cool connections to making this masterpiece. Any fans of the movie would be well served to grab this read.

An origin story of the minds behind the classic comedy Airplane! And a behind the scenes look at filming.
I loved this movie and enjoyed this book. Definitely makes me want to rewatch this film.
I wish the book had gone a little deeper in the relationships of the creators, it felt very surface level. But an enjoyable book non the less.

***** I have received and read an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for giving my honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.*****

Reading the book was almost as much fun as watching the movie!

There's really not much to say- if you like the movie, you'll like the book.

It's a great ride down memory lane, and you learn so much about the making of the movie that you'll want to go out and watch it again.

This book about the making of the movie Airplane was just as much fun if not more than watching the actual movie. Because in the book they were things I missed in the movie like with the white zone and red zone abortion conversation I totally missed there’s some really great gem’s like there’s getting June Cleaver to be the jive translator which OMG I couldn’t wait to get to that chapter how they got the great actors and actresses they did to play the parts in Avon the chapters on Kentucky Fried theater and how that whole thing came together were interesting from there in fights the people quitting the group right before show time to how they got one of the greatest minds and comedic movie writing to be a part of their group of course it was before his genius was known throughout Hollywood but still! This is a great book there’s so much in it from their appearance or non-appearance on the Tonight Show so much much more I absolutely enjoyed this book and highly recommend it an absolute treasure to have for any fan of the movie. I want to think Saint Martin’s press and Net Galley for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

A delightful book about the making of a landmark movie, one that still manages to be hilarious over 40 years later. SURELY YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS is a guide to the making of AIRPLANE! led by the people most familiar with the territory, the film's trio of writer/directors known as ZAZ. The still-fizzy byplay between the three principals as they recount their story after a friendship that has lasted decades is the best illustration of their approach to comedy. They also do a very good job of explaining how a group of Midwestern comics with no connections to the movie business were able not only to break in, but make a groundbreaking film. (The book makes it plain that the Hollywood of the late 1970s and early '80s was far more open to taking risks.) ZAZ's story is supplemented by quotes from many of AIRPLANE!'s stars and production staff, as well as contemporary talents like Bill Hader and Adam McKay who explain how influential the movie was and continues to be. It's a rarity: a book about a laugh-out-loud movie that is itself funny.