The internet is a wonderful thing. Very Aware is highlighting some movies that Netflix is offering with its Watch Instantly feature. Movies you may have missed or movies you may have forgotten. Netflix is a treasure trove, let’s dig in!
MOVIE:
THE NAKED GUN
YEAR:
1988
CAST:
Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalban
PLOT:
When the incredibly thick Officer Frank Drevin (Leslie Nielsen) seeks the ruthless killer of his partner (O.J. Simpson), he stumbles and pratfalls on a plot to off Queen Elizabeth. Priscilla Presley plays his equally dim love interest with the same hilarious dumb luck.
THE NAKED GUN, along with AIRPLANE, taught me that people getting hurt is funny. The young actor/football player O.J. Simpson (what did he ever go on to do?) gets the holy living hell beat out of him in this movie and I’m always in stitches. He’s not the only one to get tossed around in this movie, there are plenty others. You want physical comedy? This movie has physical comedy!
It’s not just slapstick THE NAKED GUN does well, it’s everything. It’s straight-up funny. Juvenile? Yes. Silly? Yes. Stupid? Yes. Painfully hilarious? Absolutely.
You’ve got to give credit to the Zucker brothers and star Leslie Nielsen, who sells everything with his killer deadpan delivery. The guy can do no wrong in this movie. Observe my favorite bit from the entire film:
That rapid, back-and-forth delivery is repeated throughout the movie and it’s really a marvel to observe. If you want to show someone how to perform comedy, show them this movie.
As a kid, I always loved finding fans of THE NAKED GUN. “Really?” I’d think. “I’m not the only one who finds that giant condoms joke funny? I don’t have to hide my snickers in front of people? I’m not alone?”
I absolutely wasn’t alone. There is a large fan base for THE NAKED GUN. And why not? If you’re able to forget your hang-ups (and your age), it’s hilarious from the opening minute to the very end.
In fact, THE NAKED GUN holds a special place for many comedy fans. It recalls a time when comedy was just comedy. No emphasis on star power or likable characters, just a focus on a steady output of jokes. The amazing thing about THE NAKED GUN is the number of jokes that hit.
Leslie Nielsen recently passed away. Now’s the perfect time to remind yourself why he was such a comedy legend. Better yet, grab someone else and force them to watch it with you. Tape their eyes open if you must! I don’t think you’ll have to.
THE NAKED GUN is available on Netflix here.
