If you love physical humor you’re not going to find anything funnier than the first five minutes of this film – at least from anything made in the last twenty years. Even after all of these years, it still slays me.

After peaking with their brand of humor The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, the Zucker Brothers and Jim Abrahams released this sequel. It's a faded copy of the original. The jokes are a little more forced (amazing that it is even possible) and there is a serious, SERIOUS political agenda being played out. Detective Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) is nearing retirement from Police Squad. His relationship with Jane (Priscilla Presley) has fallen apart and she has moved on. Jane is now paired with the corrupt Quentin Hapsburg (Robert Goulet). Goulet is perfectly cast as the mustache twisting villain/straight man. He deserves a good amount of attention. As a straight man, his reactions are priceless in contrast to Nielsen’s hammy performance. Hapsburg’s big sin is fronting a conspiracy which will lead to environmental destruction. This film was one of the early attempts at the openly political films we’ve come to know today. The political agenda is slathered on pretty thick and the audience is forced to look beyond it to get to the good stuff. If you can stomach the all business men and Republicans are Satan nonsense sprinkled liberally (literally) you will find some very smart jokes. The bomb site in the first act – hilarious.

Note that beyond just an obtuse political agenda, this is just like the rest of the Zucker/Abrahams comedies. It often will be crude. It is not for kids. If you are sensitive to low humor you will want to avoid this film.


Related Reviews:
Comedies
Best in Show (2000)
Parenthood (1989)


Other Critic’s Reviews:
Spirituality and Practice
Roger Ebert

Labels: comedy, David Zucker, film, leslie nielsen, movie review, Police Squad, Zucker Brothers