mark.waltz That's what I said in 1988 when the first "Naked Gun" movie was released, an enjoyable popcorn film that had audiences laughing so hard in the movies that often the audience missed a joke or two. Watching all three movies in sequence, I can't help but notice that the first one is by far the best, that the slight plot is simply a "Hellzapoppin'" collection of gags, both visually and verbally, and some work while others land like a thud. The second one is decent, no more than good, and while many gags are hysterically funny, you just wonder how far can they take this thing before it begins to get redundant. Leslie Nielsen is back as Lt. Drebbin of "Police Squad", celebrating his 1000th killing of a drug dealer (although the last two were accidents; He ran them over with his car, but fortunately, they turned out to be drug dealers), and now he is in Washington D.C. for an energy convention where a terrorist threat has erupted and world money men are determined to get their hands on the scientist whose energy plans are solidly helpful to the environment but also have elements that could cause mass destruction as well.Nielsen is surrounded once again by beautiful Priscilla Presley whose relationship and declaration of love ended the first film but has somehow soured over the past few years in between the first two movies, as well as partners O.J. Simpson and George Kennedy, both basically getting the same kind of gags that were hysterical in the first film, but manage only moderate chuckles here. Taking over for Nancy Marchand's L.A. mayor here is stage veteran Jacqueline Brookes as Washington's D.A., equally as imperious and definitely not a Drebbin fan. Taking over for Queen Elizabeth as far as being in the wrong place at the wrong time is first lady Barbara Bush who gets knocked around by Drebbin, while Brookes' D.A. gets the pinch of her life from Nielsen's lobster. Stage veteran Richard Griffiths (best known to Harry Potter fans as his nasty uncle) plays a dual role, and gets a wheelchair ride that will delight "E.T." fans.Three villains of note here include legendary stage actor/singer Robert Goulet who takes over for Ricardo Montalban, and two veterans of "Dynasty": Lloyd Bochner and Peter Mark Richman, ironically both cast as C.C. Capwell on "Santa Barbara" (only Richman would air; Bochner had to leave the part before the first episode was filmed due to a heart attack), and Bochner gets to spoof an early T.V. appearance in one of the film's best gags. The movie opens once again with a very slap- happy final shot in its credits that might seem dated now, but back when this came out, was very timely and spoofed many times in films and on T.V. John Roarke and Margery Ross are dead-on as George and Barbara Bush, and the gags are so funny that you just know that the then first family must have been highly amused by it. 'Weird Al' Yankovic, after his cameo in the first one as himself, was back as another character, and in keeping with "tradition", would be back in the third installment as well!I wouldn't call this one a classic by any means, but during this era of movie going, movie audiences weren't craving noisy sound effects or "end of the world" spectacles that dominate the summer cinemas of today. A good box of popcorn, a large soda and a ton of laughs at a comedy like this were all that my college age crowd wanted when going to the theater, and in retrospect, this is all very nostalgic, reminding me of what was probably overdone but yet fun as "p.c. politics" began to try to control the minds of a country that has seemed to have forgotten how to laugh. I can't help but admit that for as repetitive and over-done that these spoofs were in the late 1980's/early-mid 1990's that they certainly were a lot of fun, and for that, I can't help but recommend these films simply for that.

Python Hyena The Naked Gun 2 ½: The Smell of Fear (1991): Dir: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker / Cast: Leslie Nielsen, Prescilla Presley, Robert Goulet, Richard Griffith, George Kennedy: Hilarious sequel with mock title indicating practical threat. Leslie Nielsen is back as Lieutenant Frank Drebin, lonely after his breakup with Jane. Robert Goulet plays the villain who is courting her. The speaker for national policy for ecology is kidnapped leaving Drebin to investigate. Effective plot with numerous verbal jokes. Directed by Jim Abrahams with Jerry and David Zucker who not only made the original Naked Gun comedy but also Airplane and Top Secret. Nielsen is hilarious torn between work and love. Prescilla Presley as Jane can literally fit inside her fridge. She battles her feelings towards Frank while slowly becoming webbed into a deceitful relationship. Robert Goulet is appropriately sly as a villain who gets his just desserts in the most unexpected way. Richard Griffith plays the naïve Dr. Meinheimer who is kidnapped and subjected to a great sight joke that transpires when Drebin struggles to free himself. Meinheimer's speeches are the thing of hibernation as a seminar discovers. George Kennedy and O.J. Simpson play the sidekicks who assist or blunder the case, whichever comes first. Numerous celebrities appear in cameo including weekend guests from out of town. Score: 9 / 10

SnoopyStyle President George H.W. Bush announces that the new energy policy will be based on renewable advocate Dr. Albert Meinheimer's (Richard Griffiths)'s recommendations. It's been 2 years since Jane Spencer (Priscilla Presley) left Lt. Frank Drebbin (Leslie Nielsen) for his insensitivity. Jane is now working for Meinheimer and her new boyfriend is Hexagon Oil executive Quentin Hapsburg (Robert Goulet). Frank is sent to investigate a bombing at Meinheimer's facility along with Captain Ed Hocken (George Kennedy) and detective Nordberg (O.J. Simpson). Quentin reveals to an energy cabal that he has kidnapped Meinheimer and replaced him with impostor Earl Hacker.Comedy is the most subjective of film genres. This is a pretty simple movie to critique. If you like the original, this is more of the same. The gang is back. Leslie Nielsen is as silly as ever. There is nothing too small to spoof. Priscilla Presley is still beautiful and willing to have fun. Some people may be tired of this genre after the first one. That would certainly explain some of the declining support as the franchise goes on. The energy subject matter is a bit ill-fitting for a crime spoof. I would prefer something else since the central subject is of little importance anyways.

Harriet Deltubbo Drebin discovers that his ex-girlfriend's new beau is involved in a plot to kidnap a scientist who advocates solar energy. Nothing to laugh at as there are fisticuffs back and forth with those who claim to work for justice. Nielson carries this movie and saves it from being a disaster with his physical slapstick. Nielson's is not the restrained performance that the critics have described. From an artistic standpoint, there were some plot elements and character developments I didn't think were totally needed. They do however drive the story, which seemed to be their purpose, so I can accept them. The effects are very good for 1991. But nothing to laugh at.