There’s a reason why David Zucker created the best installment in the Scary Movie franchise. The guy’s a natural when it comes to fast-paced slapstick comedy, and that’s evident from his profitable and critically acclaimed comedy films in Airplane! BASEketball, Top Secret, Scary Movie 3, and of course; The Naked Gun franchise! The Naked Gun has always been a fascinating comedy series, and the reason for that is Zucker’s immaculate talent for bringing slapstick with a PURPOSE! Enter The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
How to Download The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
You can download the film from a digital store. You can also stream it. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice.
The Movie Review
Lt. Frank Drebin is instantly called to work to investigate the nearly deadly shooting of a fellow cop after just returning from combating terrorism in Beruit. Now, using his own distinct hands-on approach, Lt. Frank Drebin is brought down to the city, and he’s investigating the death of one Detective Nordberg. Nordberg was fatally shot while conducting an investigation at the docks, Drebin’s most pivotal inquiry focuses on the organization that Nordberg worked for as an undercover agent. He meets Vincent Ludwig, a stalwart of the neighborhood, because of this investigation, however, Frank discovers evidence of Ludwig’s evil agenda while falling for his PA, the stunning Jane Spencer.
Now, with all signs pointed toward Ludwig, will Frank be able to bring him to justice?
This film jumps from one rib-tickling sequence to another right away, showing a car being stolen and being used for a driving test to showing the rescue of a pricey pen from a fish tank, it’s non-stop laughs for everyone watching. David Zucker has excellent comedic timing. He makes sure that his performers’ comical facial expressions are priceless, and he ensures that the delivery of one-liners is with a dead, monotone seriousness that makes them even funnier than usual. The film features some lines where I couldn’t breathe out of laughing, it baffles me how the actors managed to keep straight faces while saying the dialogue.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! is an incredibly entertaining movie that moves quickly and furiously. The humor and acting are what actually make this movie fantastic, not just the way it looks or how well it’s directed or timed or how it has lively music or a fascinating story (which are all factually correct).
Nielsen in particular was a shining star here. He was fantastic in Airplane! which is another timeless film, but in this one, he really lets loose and sets a whole new standard for the lunacy he’s well known for. His jaw set straight and his tongue firmly planted in his cheek, Neilsen completely owns the role of Lt. Frank Drebin, and as a result, the collective experience for moviegoers is richer.
To think that this is a comedy film that actually looks good is something remarkable. There are not a lot of comedy films that care much about their overall aesthetic, especially not ones that are plotted in the same vein as The Naked Gun. This film, however, takes itself super seriously while still being one of the silliest, goofiest romps ever. The cinematography and camerawork is raw for the most part, but it works to this film’s strength in giving it a more realistic look as a direct contrast to its hilarious plot.
Moreover, there’s also a decent soundtrack lurking in the shadows here. It usually doesn’t overtake most scenes, but the scenes in which the music is available are simply made better. Of course, being a comedy film, it relies more on sound effects rather than the actual music, but the two collaborate occasionally to make the film that much more refreshing. This is one of those films which firmly reminds me of ‘A Werewolf in London’, it’s funny, spoofy and yet its incredibly well made in every department.
Verdict
Modern parody movies have lost sight of the fact that a good spoof requires some originality. Sure, even if the narrative is heavily lifted from other works, you still need to add clever twists to every cliché to ensure that you have a successful spoof on your hands. Lt. Drebin is constructed in the noble tradition of other competent and honorable lawmen like Jack Cousteau or Hercule Poirot, yet he’s completely incompetent, which brings a unique twist to the character.
This proves that even the characters in movies like this matter, this is what gives the movie its own distinctive mark and elevates it above mere collections of film references. While some elements are weaker than others, there is no evident flaw in The Naked Gun: From the Files of the Police Squad! This is why precisely why I consider this film a must-see.
