The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! Blu-ray Review
Score: 62
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
"The Naked Gun" remains a timeless comedic classic with Leslie Nielsen’s standout performance, humor consistently delivers, though the Blu-ray's A/V is solid but extras are minimal.
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Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 59
The Naked Gun's 1080p Blu-ray transfer offers a respectable treatment with natural grain, balanced and vibrant colors, and commendable detailing, despite fluctuating sharpness and minor black crush. While it isn't high-definition perfection, it admirably handles this aging title with few severe issues.
Audio: 64
The Naked Gun's DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack delivers clear dialogue and rich opening title music, but lacks immersive surround activity and impactful bass, reflecting its age with a fair yet unremarkable audio experience.
Extra: 42
The Naked Gun features minimalist extras with a highly entertaining and humorous group commentary by Zucker, Weiss, and Tilden, filled with jokes about O.J. Simpson and behind-the-scenes insights, while the HD trailer unfortunately reveals crucial plot points and key jokes.
Movie: 72
The Blu-ray of 'The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!' perfectly captures David Zucker's comedic brilliance from beginning to end, blending a tangible plot with Leslie Nielsen's deadpan humor, rapid-fire gags, and impeccable character moments, making it a timeless and uproariously funny comedy.
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Video: 59
The Blu-ray release of "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!" presents a generally solid and satisfactory 1080p, 1.78:1 transfer, although it is not without its flaws. Paramount’s transfer retains a natural grain structure that imbues the image with a classic, albeit slightly dated, film-like texture. This grain structure effectively enhances natural detailing throughout the film, except in some sequences where the detail levels seem inconsistent. Whether it’s facial textures or environmental detailing in locations like the hospital or ballpark, the film maintains a sufficient level of detail. Colors are generally well-balanced and vibrant, with the ballgame sequence standing out due to the clear and accurate representation of team uniforms.
However, black levels present some minor issues; although adequate, they are occasionally sprinkled with a bit of noise and can sometimes appear a touch washed out. Luckily, black crush is not a significant concern. While banding and blockiness are rarely problematic, and dirt and scratches are minimal, an unusual and faint checkerboard pattern appears in an early scene with Frank on a plane, which slightly detracts from the otherwise clean image. Despite these concerns, the transfer is relatively clean compared to other catalog titles, though it does suffer from inconsistent depth and sometimes fluctuating sharpness.
The overall video presentation demonstrates that while "The Naked Gun" on Blu-ray doesn't quite achieve high-definition eye candy status, it fares well for an aging film. The random haziness and occasional lack of depth in some shots aren’t uncommon for films of its era. Though there are moments of sharp clarity—such as the car chase interior shots—the transfer's inconsistency can be frustrating. Despite these drawbacks, the transfer avoids major pitfalls like extensive DNR or digital tampering, making it a reasonable upgrade for fans, but not one that will wow HD purists.
Audio: 64
The DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless audio track for "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!" delivers a commendable performance, particularly given the film's age. The opening title music is notably rich, with excellent clarity and precise spacing across the front channels. Music throughout the film, including iconic tunes like "Something Good" during the love montage, benefits from this clarity. While heavier effects, such as the plane landing near the beginning, might lack some definition, general sound elements like gunshots and ballgame ambience are well-presented. The rear channels manage to provide some support, but there's no significant sense of immersion.
Dialogue is consistently crisp and center-based, with occasional movements around the soundstage like the echoing when characters speak through a microphone or over the ballpark's public address system. Despite these strengths, some lines do experience minor volume fluctuations around the midpoint of the film. The track is not a powerhouse, with minimal impact from low-frequency effects and rear-channel activity limited largely to musical elements. Fans of the film will appreciate the boost in clarity and spaciousness offered by the lossless track, though it’s important to temper expectations due to the film's vintage.
Extra: 42
The extras on the Blu-Ray release of "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!" are minimal but highly entertaining, providing both genuine behind-the-scenes insights and a comedic lens. The audio commentary by Director David Zucker, Producer Robert Weiss, and Peter Tilden stands out for its humorous approach, filled with witticisms, non sequiturs, and jokes at the expense of both the film and O.J. Simpson. Despite much of the commentary's comical tone, it offers substantial behind-the-scenes anecdotes worth hearing. Complementing this is a theatrical trailer in high definition, although it inadvertently spoils key plot points and some of the movie’s best jokes, reducing its effectiveness.
Extras included in this disc:
Audio Commentary: An entertaining track with David Zucker, Robert Weiss, and Peter Tilden full of humor and behind-the-scenes insights.
Trailer: A high-definition trailer that unfortunately reveals major plot points.
Movie: 72
David Zucker's "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!" stands out as a quintessential example of screwball comedy, brilliantly melding humor with a cleverly devised plot. The film's centerpiece is the ever-bumbling cop Frank Drebin, masterfully portrayed by Leslie Nielsen, whose impeccable deadpan delivery anchors the movie's comedic rhythm. Alongside him are strong performances by Ricardo Montalban as the sinister Vincent Ludwig, Priscilla Presley as the secretary Jane Spencer, and O.J. Simpson, whose character Nordberg suffers hilariously through endless physical mishaps. The seamless integration of Drebin’s absurd antics within the more serious crime narrative presents a rare synchronization of humor and story that adds depth to the comedy genre.
The film’s structure hinges on Drebin's investigation into a perilous conspiracy intertwined with a high-profile drug case and an assassination attempt on the Queen of England during her visit to Los Angeles. This blend of narrative complexity and comedic timing creates a film that not only entertains but also engages on multiple levels. Unlike other comedies where humor takes precedence over plot, "The Naked Gun" builds its laughs within a coherent and compelling storyline, making it infinitely rewatchable. Every character interaction and scene transitions fluidly in delivering a relentless barrage of jokes, puns, and sight gags without sacrificing narrative momentum.
"The Naked Gun" also showcases Nielsen's adeptness in leveraging both overt physical comedy and subtle jokes, often stretching moments for maximum comedic impact. The deadpan style, combined with politically incorrect humor, defies modern constraints, keeping the film refreshing even decades post-release. Its willingness to maintain a consistent tone and stay true to its ridiculous yet coherent premise marks it as an enduring classic. The finesse in balancing crude humor with intelligent gags ensures that "The Naked Gun" remains a high point in the legacy of comedic cinema and screwball humor.
Total: 62
"The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!" shines as a brilliant comedy classic that brought a unique blend of deadpan humor and over-the-top physical gags. The film showcases Leslie Nielsen in what is arguably the finest comedic role of his career. His impeccable timing and delivery elevate the material, resulting in an unforgettable viewing experience. O.J. Simpson’s comic misadventures and the delightfully absurd montage sequences add layers of hilarious moments, creating a consistently engaging narrative. This film remains a cherished relic of an era when smart parody was at its zenith.
Paramount’s Blu-ray release capitalizes on the film’s timeless appeal with a commendable audio-visual presentation. While the A/V quality has received praise for its fidelity, it is worth noting that the Blu-ray lacks substantial extras, offering DVD-era features that may leave enthusiasts wanting more. The visual transfer maintains clarity and vibrant colors, while the audio mix, although faithful to its period, could benefit from modern enhancements. Despite these minor shortcomings, the disc's overall presentation successfully retains the charm and impact of the original film.
In conclusion, "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!" continues to deliver endless laughter through its clever writing and exceptional performances, particularly by Leslie Nielsen. Paramount’s Blu-ray iteration, despite its minimal extras, provides a robust platform to enjoy this comedic gem in high-definition. For fans of the genre and classic comedy aficionados, this release is recommended, both for its entertainment value and its contribution to preserving a notable period in cinematic history.
Blu-ray.com review by Martin LiebmanRead review here
Video: 80
Paramount's image retains a natural grain structure that serves to both provide the image with a handsome, if not slightly dated, film-like texture, while also reinforcing all of the natural detailing...
Audio: 80
Dialogue is center-based and crisp, and it does well to gently maneuver around the soundstage when necessary, for instance the echoing as heard when characters speak through a microphone or, later, over...
Extras: 30
In between the tomfoolery (and quite a few jabs at O.J.), there's a good bit of real behind-the-scenes information to be heard, though most of it does remain framed within a comical current....
Movie: 90
Only George Kennedy seems capable of really keeping up with Nielsen, though the film does enjoy fine efforts from Ricardo Montalban, Priscilla Presley, and O.J. Simpson, the latter of whom, much to many...
Total: 70
Deadpan jokes, exaggerated physical gags, O.J. Simpson getting knocked around real good, and one of the most infectiously fun montage sequences ever created all add up to a Comedy classic that's one of...
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 40
It isn't the complete lack of depth in many shots, the hit or miss textures, the slight black crush in any night sequence, or the sometimes defined, sometimes blobby hair that is a problem as much as the...
Audio: 60
I didn't have any expectations for the rear channels due to the age of the film, so the fact that only musical elements hit it (sometimes too faintly) isn't that much of a letdown....
Extras: 20
A hilarious track, with constant O.J. Simpson jokes, dry witticisms, silly non sequiturs and a ton of laughs to be had....
Movie: 80
The assassination weapon makes for some entertaining sequences, unbelievable as they may be, through post-hypnotic suggestion allowing nearly anyone to carry out the fiendish plot, leaving the identity...
Total: 60
Sure, the filmmakers went on to make some pretty poor films, but with Nielsen at the top of his inane game, and the script loaded with fun surprises that are a delight with each replay, this is one film...
Director: David Zucker
Actors: Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, O.J. Simpson
PlotLieutenant Frank Drebin of Police Squad is a bumbling but well-meaning detective who returns to Los Angeles after a vacation only to find that his partner, Nordberg, has been critically injured while investigating a drug operation. As Drebin attempts to uncover the truth behind Nordberg's injury, he learns of a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II during an upcoming visit to Los Angeles. The evidence points toward wealthy businessman Vincent Ludwig, who has been using an experimental device to manipulate people's actions through hypnotic suggestion.
Drebin's investigation leads him to Ludwig's assistant, Jane Spencer, with whom he develops a romantic relationship. While trying to gather enough evidence to implicate Ludwig and prevent the assassination, Drebin stumbles through a series of absurd and comedic situations, often causing more chaos than order. Despite his clumsiness, Drebin remains determined to thwart the plot, save the Queen, and bring the criminals to justice.
Writers: Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker
Release Date: 02 Dec 1988
Runtime: 85 min
Rating: PG-13
Country: United States
Language: English