# Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear, The (1991)

### reviewed by
Brian L. Johnson

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                         THE NAKED GUN 2 1/2: THE SMELL OF FEAR
                              A film review by Ken Johnson
                               Copyright 1991 Ken Johnson

    89 min., PG-13, Comedy, 1991
    Director: David Zucker
    Cast: Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, O. J. Simpson,
          Robert Goulet

Synopsis: Los Angeles Cop Frank Drebin, Nielsen, is invited to a lunch with the President of the United States. At the lunch, the President announces that a scientist will unveil his suggestions for the new U.S. energy plan at a public meeting. Of course, whatever the scientist says will go into effect. The coal, oil, and nuclear energy spokespeople suspect that the scientist's recommendation will be for more energy from the sun. That would greatly hinder their business. At the time of the meeting the scientist's laboratory is bombed. Nielsen rushes to the scene and finds that there is only one witness, Presley. Presley is Nielsen's old lover who he hasn't gotten over yet. Nielsen's only suspect for the bombing is the spokesman for nuclear energy (Goulet), who Presley is now seeing. Presley won't believe Nielsen when he tells her what his suspicions are because she thinks that he is jealous.

The following may contain spoilers that might hinder the enjoyment of watching the film. If you have not seen the film proceed with caution.

Leslie Nielsen's portrayal of Frank Drebin, a cop who stays straight-faced while totally messing up, is great. Priscilla Presley is back as Drebin's old lover who has seemed to survive the break up; unfortunately Frank is not that lucky. He spends the entire movie trying to win her back. The evil man portrayed in the film is totally evil without caring for those around him; all he is interested in is to make sure his business succeeds. The film's portrayal of George Bush is almost perfect. Those hand motions of his that he does when he is talking (first lampooned by Dana Carvey in "Saturday Night Live") have been added in. One of the scenes not to miss is the parody of GHOST's love scene with the pottery wheel. Put in the hands of Nielsen and Presley not even that is safe.

Director David Zucker returns again from his television series "Police Squad!" and his hit film THE NAKED GUN to direct this film. Like THE NAKED GUN this film relies on slapstick comedy for it laughs. For serious people who like subtle humor this would not be a film to see. For those of you who have seen THE NAKED GUN and liked it, I highly suggest seeing this film. It is written by David Zucker and Pat Proft, who both wrote for the TV series "Police Squad!"

Where as this film may not be the blockbuster film of the summer (I expect Arnold Schwarzenegger's film TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY will have that ranking), I feel this is worth going to see before it leaves the theaters. On a 0 to 5 scale I give this film a 5.

THE NAKED GUN 2 1/2 is rated PG-13 for adult situations, explicit language, and adult humor.

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