All the screenshots in this post were taken directly from the movie by me.
After seeing the first part of Naked Gun, I was happy to learn that there were a couple of sequels, and the truth is that "The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear" delivers exactly what it promises, although I must admit that it doesn't meet the same high standards as its predecessor.
If the first part was characterized as a relentlessly paced detective comedy, The Smell of Fear follows the tradition, bringing back the excellent Leslie Nielsen reprising his role as Lieutenant Frank, alongside his partners Ed Hocken and Nordberg (played by George Kennedy and O.J. Simpson, respectively).
Of course, The Smell of Fear lacks as many iconic moments, but it has a premise interesting enough to keep us hooked, although in this case it's a bit more convoluted than we'd like.
This complexity may work against the film, but it still serves as a perfect excuse for us to see Lieutenant Frank's antics, and in this case, it serves as a testament to the fact that these are films that, in the right hands, could have endless sequels.
Don't get me wrong, despite the slight decline in quality, Naked Gun Part II is still an excellent comedy, and it maintains those nostalgic vibes that made its predecessor an absolute classic.
I'm not the biggest fan of slapstick comedies, and yet I appreciate the genuineness of most of the gags presented. It's a film that perfectly mimics—in live action—the uninhibited nature of animated comedies, and I can't think of a modern film that manages to do the same at that level.
Again, its greatest virtue is the sincerity with which each joke is executed, ignoring the absurdity of the situation and approaching everything seriously, regardless of the level of ridiculousness.
This score was taken from my Letterboxd account.
Twitter/Instagram/Letterbox: Alxxssss
Comments
No comments yet — be the first.
