My only complaint about Naked Gun 2 1/2 is that it doesn't give you enough time to finish laughing at one gag before the next one comes along, cracking you up all over again. Naked Gun 2 1/2 is high-flying low comedy, 90 minutes of sublime nonsense that only the devoutly humorless could hate. [28 June 1991, p.69]
The rare case were the sequel is equally good or even better. They master using tropes, stereotypes and abstruse situations to create a great comedy. It is again a parody of police movies and the story is about green energy and shady businesses. Leslie Nielsen is again Frank Drebin who gets trough many of the most hilarious situations without losing his seriousness. This alone works so well. The other strength is the humor and writing by Zucker / Abrahams / Zucker. They took care that all jokes work. Practically you don't stop laughing as the satire, parodies and humorous nonsense takes over. The later parodies or spoof movies were just a line of gags put together without much care. Here it is like organically grown. With that I mean that non of the jokes is out of place. They all work really well and are creative for the setting and world building. The cast is also great and return to their respective roles. Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy and O. J. Simpson are so funny and entertaining. For the new cast we have Robert Hapsburg who is a great villain and Richard Griffion who does an excellent job in his 2 roles. I will also praise John Roarke who is an incredible President Bush. Overall this is a firework of gags and entertainment from a time were comedies or spoof movies were really good. A must recommendation see if you enjoy this kind of humor.
Though admittedly a minor delight, this is the only movie whose end credits identify the film's grip, then credit Martha Raye for Poli-grip, then define ''grip'' for millions who want to know just what a grip does. For such small favors, Gun 21/2 has the smell of box office. [28 June 1991, p.5D]
The plot exists to be disregarded, the characters are deliberately constructed of cardboard, the sight gags are idiotic, and the dialogue is dumb. Really dumb. So dumb you laugh twice, once because of how stupid it is, and the second time because you fell for it.
The film's vague recycling theme strikes me as a veiled admission of recycled ideas. Maybe Zucker should have been bold and called it The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Money. [29 June 1991, p.E1]
The only thing about The Naked Gun that won't make you laugh is the film itself...To mix a metaphor in appropriate style, the filmmakers have really beaten a dead horse into the ground with this one.
Decent sequel, especially in the context of comedies, where there is typically a significant decline in originality and quality from the first to the second sequel. Undoubtedly not as nice as the original, primarily because you are accustomed to it at this point. Additionally, it would have been challenging to equal the first's uniqueness and humour. Nevertheless, really humorous and engaging. Excellent sight gags and clever, humorous banter. Quite quotable. Leslie Nielsen had a fantastic performance in the major role, much as in the previous film. There aren't many other comedians or performers who spring to mind who could have nailed the part. George Kennedy does a good job as Nielsen's clown's straight guy.
The Same Amount Of Bullets.
The Naked Gun 2 ½: The Smell Of Fear
Zucker's another bourgeois case is more genuine than we usually get in such crime detective films. I have been scratching my head over the years to understand what makes this large scaled tomfoolery a success. From this installment of the franchise I could make my truce with believing that these guys are just aware of every possible angle a joke can be viewed from. This is how they are drawing their major laughs. So smooth and so smart is their vocab, utterly convincing in their benign ideologies, you HAVE to nod along with them.
And these are not just few chuckles or pity laughs, but to a point where you find yourself on floor, hoping for them to stop this stupidity and also wanting for more. The commitment on expressing those hilarious written words on screen is something that should come in handy in this genre. Always improvising and keeping true to their loud character developments and arcs of the film- it sounds preposterous to point that out- but it is true. Everytime you think that they are just goofing around, they are fooling you.
There is always that one piece of note that helps them end on a satisfying note, in here it is a workaholic Leslie Nielsen sacrificing his work for Priscilla Presley. The supporting cast are often the butt of the joke but it's their blatant fumbles and ignorance that helps Nielson repeat his mistakes. Gags that soars above all are a thrilling dancing number, a sensual spoof encounter between lead characters, an old lady beaten unknowingly by Nielsen, all the given speeches in the film and him attempting to uncuff himself. The Naked Gun 2 ½: The Smell Of Fear frankly smells funny, hold on to your seat, this sequel respects the childishness of its prequel.
Dans la série « y-a-t’il un faouucking **** in da house », cet épisode fait certainement (dés)honneur à cette triste série de films à débiles et super golios ! il patauge en effet dans le gag éculé usé jusqu’à la trame qui ne manquera pas de faire rire son public de Forrest Gump et Rain Man.
Les autres lèveront les yeux au ciel dans un double ‘facepalm’ tout en soupirant lourdement et en lâchant un laconique « mon dieu, mon dieu » (Oh my faoucckiing Gaood en VO). Leslie Nielsen est incontrôlable, tout comme l’écriture de fond de poubelle de ce film de golios et golitos en roue libre du début à la fin… le film ne peut être sauvé : il tombe les couilles les premières dans le sanibroyeur !