Review of Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

Introduction

A parody of TV crime programmes, Leslie Nielsen stars as the clumsy and often distracted police detective, maintaining a straight face, as slapstick and farce are unleashed around him. Despite its parodistic tone, each film has a coherent narrative. Although the story is secondary to the humour, the filmmakers wisely recognise that a logical plot creates the momentum that pulls the viewer through the laughs.

Video

Presented in 1.77:1 letterboxed format and enhanced for 16:9 playback, it is a shame (not!) that the masking on the bottom is not high enough in one shot to hide Priscilla Presley’s bikini top in a supposed topless scene. The picture transfers look terrific. The colours are solid and bright and the image is crisp and fleshtones are accurate.

Audio

The 5.1 Dolby Digital remix sounds punchy, with music and effects frequently drifting into the rears--unexpected, considering it`s the only one out of the series that was originally in mono.

Features

The Naked Gun contains separate group commentaries from David Zucker, producer Robert K. Weiss, and "host" Peter Tilden. This is hugely enjoyable stuff and, once I could discern who`s who (nobody introduces himself), I really got into the groove of their conversation, a mixture of sarcasm and reverie. But where`s Nielsen, ZAZ`s white-haired Mickey Mouse?

Conclusion

Despite a prologue that tweaks Cold War figureheads (Gorbachev, the Ayatollah), The Naked Gun is the least topical of the franchise and consequently still the most enjoyable. Leslie Nielsen reprises his role as "Police Squad!"`s (a short-lived ABC sitcom that sent up crime shows of the seventies, like "Columbo" and "Mannix") Lt. Frank Drebin, a brick-jawed, gun-totin` (to a gleefully incorrect degree) old school cop with a nose--and knack--for danger. Since The Naked Gun is from the authors of Airplane! and Top Secret!, Frank exists in a universe where abstract silliness is constant and accepted at face value by its inhabitants.