The 1980s were a particularly robust period when it came to various forms of raunchy comedy, from R-rated teen sex romps to a new wave of romcoms and everything in between. If the ’80s were about excess, then a few filmmakers were going to live up to that standard with rapid-fire jokes, countless sight gags, and actors who were willing to go the extra mile for comedy gold.
One of the best examples of this comes in the form of The Naked Gun, the first film in a trilogy created by Jim Abrahams, Pat Proft, and the Zucker Brothers based on their short-lived TV series Police Squad!
The film is a delightful sendup of serious cop dramas, and follows detective Frank Drebin (played by the incomparable Leslie Nielsen) as he tries to protect the Queen of England during her visit to the United States. The film is just wall-to-wall gags delivered by the entire cast, and it’s a reminder to us all that there was no other comedy star quite like Leslie Nielsen.
Written by: Looper