Written by Jennifer
March 09, 2009
Though much of the writing is quite witty, it's really the cast that holds up the movie.
Goodness. What can we say about The Naked Gun? It's silly, it's random, it's full of fluff, and somehow it still works. Though much of the writing is quite witty, it's really the cast that holds up the movie.
As Lieutenant Frank Drebin, Leslie Nielsen is as dapper as he is deadpan, and somehow this makes the fact that he's actually a bumbling idiot endlessly funny. The plot of the film is somewhat superfluous, and finds Frank attempting to thwart the assassination of Queen Elizabeth (at a baseball game of all places), avenge the attempted murder of his colleague (played by O.J. Simpson), and find love with the beautiful Jane Spencer (Priscilla Presley).
Along the way there are countless sight gags and one liners to propel the movie forward no matter how ridiculous the story becomes. I'm sure everyone remembers Jane's "nice" stuffed beaver (a fine example of taxidermy if ever there was one), but there are many subtler jokes along the way. Here I'm thinking of the blink-and-you'll-miss-it moments, like when Frank subtly walks around a false wall instead of using the door... not so much the full-body condoms Frank and Jane use in their make-out scene. Ahem.
Again, what gives the film dignity in the absence of dignity is the cast. George Kennedy lends an equal blend of gravitas and teddy bear charm, and who expects to see Elvis's ex-wife doing pratfalls!? Even O.J. Simpson holds his own, and depending how you feel about him, you'll either delight in his comedic performance or revel in the unfortunate events that befall him. I never thought I'd say this, but revisiting The Naked Gun almost makes me want to curl up on the couch and take in the sequels. Almost.
DVD NOTES
Extra features include group commentary (by writer/director David Zucker, producer Robert Weiss, and host Peter Tilden) and the original theatrical trailer.
As part of the I Love the 80's collection, this edition of The Naked Gun comes with a bonus cd including the 80s hits "Lips Like Sugar" by Echo and the Bunnymen, "Chains of Love" by Erasure, "Need You Tonight" by INXS, and "Take On Me" by a-ha.
