The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

1988

Directed by David Zucker

Welcome back to Movie Monday, folks! We’re continuing our journey through my personal list of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. Remember, this list is based solely on my opinion, so something I despise might be your absolute favorite. Today, we’re tackling number 79 out of 100 on our countdown: The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

The Spoof That Couldn’t Quite Arrest My Attention

Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: I’m generally not a fan of spoofs. With very few exceptions, I find this genre of comedy tiresome, repetitive, and, well, mostly stupid. The Naked Gun falls squarely into this category for me, despite its enduring popularity and influence on comedy cinema.

Released in 1988, The Naked Gun is a crime comedy directed by David Zucker and produced by Paramount Pictures. It stars Leslie Nielsen as the bumbling police lieutenant Frank Drebin, who sets out to uncover a criminal plot involving mind-controlled assassins. The film is based on the short-lived TV series Police Squad! and features the same creative team, including the Zucker brothers, Jim Abrahams, and Pat Proft.

A Star-Studded Affair (For Better or Worse)

The cast is a mix of comedy veterans and surprising choices. Leslie Nielsen, of course, leads the charge as Frank Drebin, a role that cemented his transformation from dramatic actor to comedy icon. Alongside him, we have Priscilla Presley as love interest Jane Spencer, Ricardo Montalbán as the villainous Vincent Ludwig, George Kennedy as Captain Ed Hocken, and, in a casting choice that has certainly aged interestingly, O.J. Simpson as Detective Nordberg.

The filmmakers’ strategy of casting actors not known for comedy in straight roles against Nielsen’s deadpan absurdity is part of what gives The Naked Gun its particular flavor. It’s a technique that worked wonders in Airplane! but for me, starts to wear thin here.

Plot: A Vehicle for Gags

The plot of The Naked Gun is… well, it exists. Barely. Drebin must prevent an assassination attempt on Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Los Angeles. Along the way, he falls in love, stumbles through investigations, and generally causes more problems than he solves.

But let’s be honest: the plot is merely a clothesline on which to hang a series of gags, puns, and slapstick sequences. Some land with precision, others fall flat on their face – much like Frank Drebin himself.

The Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker Comedy Machine

The creative team behind The Naked Gun – David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker (collectively known as ZAZ) – had already made a name for themselves with Airplane! and the Police Squad! TV series. Their rapid-fire approach to comedy, where if one joke doesn’t land, another is hot on its heels, is on full display here.

It’s a style that many love, but for me, it’s exhausting. The constant barrage of visual gags, wordplay, and absurd situations leaves little room for the comedy to breathe. It’s like being stuck in a room with that one friend who never stops cracking jokes – even when no one’s laughing anymore.

The Good, The Bad, and The Groan-Worthy

To give credit where it’s due, The Naked Gun does have its moments. Leslie Nielsen’s deadpan delivery is impeccable, and some of the visual gags are genuinely clever. The film’s willingness to go all-in on its absurdity is admirable, even when it doesn’t quite work.

However, for every joke that lands, there are several that miss the mark entirely. The relentless pace of the gags means that even when you do find something funny, you’re not given time to appreciate it before being hit with three more attempts at humor.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

Despite my personal distaste for The Naked Gun, it’s impossible to deny its impact on comedy cinema. The film was a critical and commercial success upon release, spawning two sequels and influencing countless other comedies in the years since.

It’s also worth noting that the film’s style of humor has, in many ways, become the template for modern spoof movies – for better or worse. Unfortunately, many of its imitators lack the charm and cleverness that made The Naked Gun work for so many viewers, resulting in a slew of far inferior parody films in the decades since.

Aging Like Milk Left Out in the California Sun

Watching The Naked Gun today is an interesting experience, to say the least. Some of the jokes have aged about as well as a gallon of milk left out on a hot Los Angeles sidewalk. What might have seemed edgy or hilarious in 1988 can come across as dated or even offensive to modern sensibilities.

This aging process is common to many comedies of the era, but it feels particularly pronounced in The Naked Gun. The film’s reliance on broad stereotypes and physical comedy means that many of its punchlines don’t land the way they would have 35 years ago.

It’s a reminder of how much comedy, and our society’s relationship with it, has evolved over the years. What was once considered uproariously funny might now elicit more cringes than chuckles.

The Reboot Nobody Asked For

Speaking of things that don’t age well, it’s worth mentioning that a reboot of The Naked Gun is apparently slated for release in 2025. In an era where every beloved franchise seems destined for a revival, perhaps this isn’t surprising. But it does beg the question: does the world really need another Naked Gun movie?

The original’s style of humor feels so rooted in its time that it’s hard to imagine how it could be updated for modern audiences without losing what made it appealing in the first place. Then again, maybe I’m not the best judge, given my general distaste for the genre.

Final Thoughts: Not Quite Arresting, But Not a Complete Felony

In the grand scheme of my worst movies list, The Naked Gun sits at a relatively merciful 79 out of 100. It’s not the bottom of the barrel, but it’s far from a film I’d willingly revisit.

For fans of spoof comedies, I can see why The Naked Gun holds a special place. Its commitment to its bit, the chemistry of its cast, and its sheer audacity in pursuit of a laugh are all commendable. But for me, it represents everything I find tiresome about the genre: an over-reliance on broad humor, a disregard for plot and character development, and a shotgun approach to comedy that prioritizes quantity over quality.

That said, comedy is perhaps the most subjective genre of film. What leaves me cold might have you in stitches, and that’s okay. The Naked Gun has clearly resonated with audiences for over three decades, and its influence on comedy is undeniable.

As we continue our journey through my list of cinematic disappointments, The Naked Gun serves as a reminder that even widely beloved films can miss the mark for some viewers. It’s not the worst offender on this list by far, but it’s a film that, for me, exemplifies the pitfalls of its genre.

Next week, we’ll be diving into another entry on my worst movies list. Will it be another comedy that fails to tickle my funny bone, or something from a completely different genre? Tune in to find out! Until then, keep watching movies – even the bad ones. Sometimes, they’re the ones that teach us the most about what we love (and hate) in cinema.