This first film in an eventual trilogy, brought to us by the Zucker brothers (makers of Airplane! and Top Secret!) is truly one of the funniest films ever made. The comedy here is non-stop, based on slapstick, sight gags, wordplay, and screwball antics. The jokes fly at the audience at a machine-gun pace with roughly 90% hitting their mark and for the other 10%, they're scattered so you're generally too busy laughing at what was just said or done to care.

The story involves the planning by Vincent Ludwig (Ricardo Montalban) to assassinate Queen Elizabeth during her visit to Los Angeles. This, of course, after being hired by a group of terrorists represented by a Mr. Papschmir (pap smear, get it?). It's up to Detective Frank Drebin (in a hilarious, dead-pan performance by Leslie Nielsen for which he has come to be known and loved) and Police Squad to see that the Queen is unharmed during her stay in their city. At the beginning, Lieutenant Nordberg (O.J. Simpson) is doing undercover work at the city's docks, listening in as a heroin deal is going down on one of the ships. Deciding to put a stop to the deal himself, he knocks down the door and is promptly faced by about 15 guns all pointed in his direction. Suddenly we see the ominous Mr. Ludwig order them to kill Nordberg. They shoot him about 30 times and thus begins a hilarious sequence of events that includes Nordberg's having his fingers slammed by a window, stepping into a bear trap, getting wet paint on his jacket, falling face-first into a wedding cake (what the heck???) and then falling out into the ocean.

You're shown from that scene, and even the one before it where Frank is in Beirut, what sort of humor you're in for. Thankfully for us, it's stupid humor that's actually quite hilarious. Not stupid humor that simply isn't funny (like that found in movies like Dumb & Dumber). Also thrown into the mix as being inept morons like Frank are his captain Ed Hocken (George Kennedy) and Jane Spencer (Priscilla Presley). Then watch for cameos by the late John Houseman, Reggie Jackson, and even Weird Al Yankovic.

I've never laughed so hard at a film before, with the exception of Airplane (in which Nielsen also starred). Where else are you going to watch as a man single-handedly beats up Gorbechev, Yassir Arafat (wearing a "Hello, my name is Yassir" sticker), and even Ayalollah Khomeini (sporting a bright orange mohawk???)? The Zuckers recycle a lot of the jokes in the movie from their short-lived, but equally hilarious, TV series "Police Squad", yet also include a lot of new material as well (not all of which may be appropriate for children under 13).

Particular moments not to miss: Frank's trip to the bathroom at the press conference, Ed & Frank visiting Nordberg and his wife after he's brought to the hospital, Frank and Jane's "safe sex" scene, and Frank singing the national anthem at the ballgame.

No matter how many times I see this movie, there seems to be something I've missed on previous viewings so I laugh even harder. Sometimes it's simply the confused expressions on the characters faces that make the biggest laugh. If you're one into parody and cleverly stupid (yes, an oxymoron) humor, the Naked Gun films are right up your alley, particularly this first in the series. There is so much to laugh at you'll end up with a sore gut after it's over. The Zuckers and Leslie Nielsen make for a great comedic team. The film is a laugh riot from start to finish. Definitely recommended.




Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older