Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994)

Frank Drebin is retiring from Police Squad and planning to start a family with Jane. Directed by first-time director Peter Segal, it lacks the same finesse and tightening of jokes that David Zucker brought to it, despite penning the script. There is a delicate balance to this art of smart/dumb comedy which can be ruined if it leans too heavily to one side or acknowledges its own absurdity. Some of these chords are hit a little too hard and lacks more of the "subtlety" found in the previous entries. This is one of those films I always like better in retrospect, even though it never quite lives up to my memory of it.

2¾ specimen cups out of 5

Note: "Fun" bit of trivia: O.J. Simpson was arrested on murder charges three months after the release of this film. This certainly exists as a time capsule.

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991)

Police Lieutenant Frank Drebin is back, where he investigates a bombing and stumbles into a criminal conspiracy involving Big Oil. As always, the plot of these movies is secondary to the succession of rapid-fire jokes and sight gags that are hidden in every scene. Admittedly, there is a big drop off in quality, but Leslie Nielsen is so effortlessly brilliant in the role, even when the jokes don't land, he still pulls it off with style and ease. It's top-loaded with enough irreverence and slapstick humor to put a smirk on your face if you're into this brand of over-the-top comedy. Just adjust your expectations accordingly, turn your brain to the "off" position and strap in for stupidity and big laughs.

3¼ Black Russians out of 5

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

What began as a low-rated six-episode spoof of M Squad and other police procedurals of the day became a highly popular film franchise starring the inimitable Leslie Nielsen as the bumbling Lt. Frank Drebin of Police Squad. Following the trademark irreverent humor of ZAZ, it features slapstick, sight gags, wordplay, non sequiturs, sexual innuendo and laugh out loud absurdity. The reason these movies succeed and continue to persist is because of the brilliance and comic timing of Leslie Nielsen, who always plays it straight and never acknowledges the ridiculousness of the situation. In terms of laughs per minute, you're getting your money's worth here. This is a movie you can watch multiple times and catch something new each time. This review might as well extend to the entirety of Police Squad!, which was chock-full of subversive humor and ingenuity. These films remain at the top of the comedy lovers' pile.

4½ stuffed beavers out of 5

Note: The original series, Police Squad! (1982), gets 5 sirens out of 5 from me.