Usually if you ask someone what their favorite movie of all time is, you will get answers like CASABLANCA, MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, and so on. Well, my favorite is the all-time comedy classic THE NAKED GUN.
Brought to the big screen by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker, the same trio that produced the classic AIRPLANE! and KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE, THE NAKED GUN provides endless and timeless laughs. Leslie Nielsen plays the bumbling but well-meaning Lt. Frank Drebin. Neilsen is at the top of his comic game here, before he went over the top. It may also be the strongest (and unlikely) comedy cast ever, including Ricardo Montelban, Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy and OJ Simpson.
I fell in love with this movie back in 1988 during its theatrical release, and it is one of only a handful of movies I am able to watch again and again and laugh as much as I did the first time I saw it. In fact, until recently, I kept noticing new things with each additional viewing!
For those of you who may not know or remember, THE NAKED GUN is based on a short-lived early 80s television series called "Police Squad," also starring Neilsen. I remember critics stating that the comedy in "Police Squad" was just too big for the small screen. Each episode would feature a guest star, like Florence Henderson or William Shatner, but the guest star would get shot down during their introductory screen shot, never to appear again in the episode. The series was cancelled after just 6 episodes.
Unlike a lot of 80s comedies, THE NAKED GUN has proven to be timeless. There is enough off-color humor to satisfy today's audience, but it is presented in a very smart manner. You will not be disappointed in this one. The runtime 85 minutes. And don't miss the credits!
Recommended: Yes
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