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Back in the ‘80s, a spoof was more than just a random smattering of overdone jokes written by a couple of guys who aren’t nearly as funny as they think they are (Yeah, I’m talkin’ to you, Friedberg and Seltzer). A spoof actually told a story—while giving it a wacky comic twist. And, back in the ‘80s, nobody did a spoof better than Jim Abrahams and the Zucker brothers, the creators of movies like Airplane!, Top Secret!, and, of course, The Naked Gun.
After traveling to Beirut to foil a plot by all of America’s most infamous enemies, Lieutenant Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) of LA’s Police Squad returns to find that his closest friend and partner, Detective Nordberg (O.J. Simpson, in an intriguing role on the other side of the law) has been shot. No one knows what Nordberg was doing out on the docks that night, but witnesses suggest that he was dealing heroin. Word gets back to the captain (George Kennedy), who gives Drebin 24 hours to clear Nordberg’s name before he’s removed from the force.
Drebin’s investigation leads him to the swanky office of wealthy businessman Vincent Ludwig (Ricardo Montalban). Though Ludwig sends his gorgeous (but klutzy) assistant, Jane (Priscilla Presley), to distract the meddlesome lieutenant, Drebin is convinced that Ludwig is hiding something. He keeps digging—and he soon stumbles upon evidence that Ludwig is involved in a plot to kill Queen Elizabeth (Jeannette Charles), whose visit to Los Angeles is just hours away.
Crammed with cameos by everyone from Weird Al to Reggie Jackson to Dr. Joyce Brothers, The Naked Gun is like an ‘80s who’s-who. Add to that its pop culture references—and that first scene in Beirut, which features everyone from Idi Amin to the Ayatollah Khomeini—and you’ve got a comical ‘80s flashback.
But The Naked Gun is more than just a walk down Memory Lane. It’s a hard-boiled spoof that’s packed with kooky one-liners and campy melodrama—and it does it all without taking itself the least bit seriously. The story may not be flawlessly constructed or fully developed, but it will easily hold your attention between jokes. The characters are familiar crime-drama characters—but with a fun spoof twist. And while Nielsen occasionally goes a bit too far into the bumbling-cop act (think Steve Martin in his Pink Panther movies), his performance is still hysterical.
As for the humor, it leans more toward crude, sophomoric humor—jokes that revolve around sex, the human anatomy, and bodily functions—and, at times, it’s laid on a bit too thick. For that reason, Top Secret! is still my favorite ‘80s crime spoof. But The Naked Gun still has plenty of clever comedic moments, too—and that makes it worth watching again.
DVD Review:
Compared to the I Love the ‘80s DVD release of Top Secret!, The Naked Gun’s new DVD release is a bit lighter on extras. This time, the special features menu includes just two items: a commentary—featuring writer/director David Zucker, producer Robert Weiss, and host Peter Tilden—and a theatrical trailer. Fortunately, though, the release also includes that same four-track ‘80s CD.
So don’t pick up a copy of the DVD for the extras; pick up a copy because The Naked Gun makes a pretty good addition to your DVD collection. It’s just the thing for those late, late nights when you’re craving a wacky comedy.
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