The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

Starring Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalban, George Kennedy

Directed by David Zucker

The 1980s was the golden age of spoof comedy films.  "Airplane!," "Spaceballs," "Clue," "UHF," "Police Academy," and "The Naked Gun" proved that there was a strong desire to see favorite serious films turned into parodies, resulting in uproarious laughter and longevity that probably no one expected.  The 90s continued that trend with the likes of "Hot Shots!" and the early 2000s saw the conclusion of this subgenre's success with "Scary Movie."  Since then, the spoof movies that've been released have been atrocious, movies I won't mention in good company because they're absolutely awful and I have no idea why they were continually made, but thankfully it's been awhile since one of them has been made.

Lieutenant Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) always gets his man, even if it's a little unorthodox and happens pretty much by accident.  When his friend Detective Nordberg (O.J. Simpson) is shot investigating a drug deal, he sets out to find the assailant, all the while preparing for an important visit to Los Angeles by Queen Elizabeth II.

Drebin's investigation leads him to wealthy dock owner Vincent Ludwig (Ricardo Montalban), who's also planning an assassination when the Queen visits.  Ludwig seems above the law, and he acts with impunity even as his assistant Jane Spencer (Priscilla Presley) falls for Drebin.  Drebin learns that Ludwig is planning on assassinating the Queen at the California Angels baseball game, and sets out to stop him before it can be completed. 

"The Naked Gun" - to my knowledge that I just learned recently - was actually based off a six-episode series called "Police Squad!" that aired in 1982 that spoofed police dramas.  Both the short-lived series and the "Naked Gun" trilogy starred Leslie Nielsen, who was a comedic genius with his timing, humor, and unabashed way in which he parodied himself.  Nielsen truly was a man of comedic genius that's unparalleled and here he fully immerses himself in his role, a role that he had been playing for years.  Drebin is lovable and upbeat, and his slapstick humor is off the charts hilarious - you have to watch the film several times to get the dialogue because you're laughing at Nielsen's deadpan presentation.

Likewise the supporting cast seems totally enthusiastic about their offbeat performances, even Oscar winner George Kennedy shines as Drebin's partner Hocken.  Priscilla Presley (obviously Elvis's wife) plays the classic damsel with elegance and charm while also showcasing her comedic ditziness and clumsiness.  Ricardo Montalban plays the classic villain as you'd expect any classically trained actor playing a classic villain in a (now) classic spoof film would, and even O.J. Simpson has some laughs, although those are more muted now due to his scandalous life.

What makes films like "The Naked Gun" so enjoyable is the fact that it obviously doesn't take itself seriously at all, and doesn't really require you to use any sort of intelligence to understand what's happening.  It's purely a feel-good film that'll have you busting your gut in laughter - some intentionally, and some that seemingly is mocking the film but in an inside way (like how dummies are used throughout but they're so obviously done you can't help but wonder if director David Zucker threw them in for comedic effect, and to prove that serious films that do the same thing don't do it well).  It's no wonder why this film hasn't just stood the test of time, but remains on several critics' lists of their all-time favorite comedic films, and is often listed in films you need to see before you die - and especially in this day and age, it's a great way to escape the real life fears that plague us all.

With another standout deadpan performance by the great Leslie Nielsen, "The Naked Gun" spoofs crime films brilliantly, providing enough slapstick humor, sight gags, and straight-faced humor to keep you rolling on the floor laughing for hours.

The Score: A+