
The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear
1991, Comedy, 1h 25m
41 Reviews 100,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear delivers a handful of moderate laughs, but overall, its strained antics pale in comparison to its gut-busting predecessor. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Det. Lt. Frank Drebin
Jane Spencer
Det. Captain Ed Hocken
Det. Nordberg
Quentin Hapsburg
Dr. Albert S. Meinheimer, Earl Hacker
News & Interviews for The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear
Critic Reviews for The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear
All Critics (41) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (23) | Rotten (18)
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Nielsen combines B-movie earnestness, exuberant mugging, and a trouper's slightly desperate cheerfulness: he turns this rather alarming character into a sweet, ebullient lunatic -- albeit one who's hell on innocent bystanders.
May 6, 2014 | Full Review… -
A feeble sequel.
January 11, 2008 | Full Review… -
Even if the laugh machine isn't operating at top efficiency, it still cranks out a few choice bits of irreverent lunacy.
January 11, 2008 | Full Review… -
The enthusiastic Zucker, Zucker & Abrahams style of movie parody is too rarely seen to prompt much head-shaking about gags that don't work.
May 20, 2003 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
No joke is passed up or thrown away. There just might be a little too much.
March 10, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review… -
In the limbo of comedy, few can go lower than Zucker without visibly straining.
January 1, 2000 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear
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Sep 23, 2015No review last night because I didn't finish watching the movie I started watching the day before yesterday, Down and Out in Beverly Hills, the next review. So, I went back to another of the beloved films of my youth. I already went on this tangent with my last review, how I loved Leslie Nielsen and the Naked Gun trilogy as a child. Sadly, though, this sequel didn't hold up as well as the third one did. Though I would still say that this is a considerably better movie than the third one. I just think that the film is fresher and there's not as much wear and tear from it being the third film in a series that has, literally, been all about the sight gags, the slapstick and silliness. The more you rely on shtick the harder it gets in the long run to maintain a high quality of jokes. If you doubt this, then just look at a series like Family Guy and then get back to me. With that said, however, while the film may not have held up as well as Top Secret, another Zucker/Abraham/Zucker production, it's still a lot of fun to watch. There's a lot of funny gags and a slapstick in the film. Going over them would simply be pointless because there's so many of them and they wouldn't make sense out of context, but, again, if you have any knowledge of the Naked Gun trilogy then you would know pretty much exactly what to expect. I don't think this is bound to be a long review simply because of the fact that I can't go into the actual content of the film itself, there's simply so much stuff thrown out there that this would be the longest review I've ever done if I decided to actually run down the film. And I've written some pretty long and rambling reviews on here, so you can imagine how long it'd be. Anyway, the point is that this is a good film. It's a blast to watch, even if it doesn't hold up as well in the 24 years since its release. Good stuff and I'd still easily recommend it as a Netflix watch.Jesse O Super Reviewer
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Jul 20, 2014A silly sequel about a clumsy cop (Leslie Nielsen) who is seeking redemption and a new start in Washington D.C., but then stumbles into a plot involving corrupt businessman looking to gain power. As is the case with most sequels, this movie is not as good or funny as the first. Sure, it has its moments and hilarious puns and instances of physical humor, but when the script misses, it REALLY misses bad. With that said, it is far from bad, anytime Nielsen on the screen you can pretty much find a reason to laugh just but subtle movements or facial expressions he makes. But he can't rescue this movie from being pretty forgettable in the end.Dan S Super Reviewer
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Aug 17, 2013The Police Squad is back in full force in The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear. When there's an attack on the president's energy advisor Lt. Frank Drebin is assigned the case, but things get personal when he discovers that his ex-girlfriend Jane is involved and may be the next target. The original cast returns and gives even stronger performances. However, the humor is overly sexual and doesn't quite fit tonally with all the pratfalls and sight gags. Though it's not as funny as the original, The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear is full of laughs.Dann M Super Reviewer
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Aug 29, 2012While it doesn't have the same level of laughs like the orignal, this still has some decent laughs. However, Leslie Neilsen still maintains his wacky performance as 'Lt. Frank Drebin' shows he is still a master of slapstick comedy.Samuel R Super Reviewer
The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear Quotes
Lt. Frank Drebin: | Congratulations! I hear Edna's pregnant again... |
Lt. Frank Drebin: | Congratulations! I hear Edna's pregnant again. |
Ed Hocken: | I know... and if I catch the guy who did it... |
Ed Hocken: | I know and if I catch the guy who did it. |
Quentin Hapsburg: | I don't recall seeing you on the guest list. |
Lt. Frank Drebin: | That's because sometimes I go by my maiden name. |
Commissioner Anabell Brumford: | Do you realize that, thanks to you, the city is being overrun with baboons? |
Lt. Frank Drebin: | Isn't that the fault of the voters? |
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