The Naked Gun 33 1/3 (1994)

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In 1994, we reached the end of the line for the 'Naked Gun' series, and as far as it goes about how I've previously mentioned that these films haven't necessarily aged too well, I think it's safe to say that '33 1/3' is probably the top culprit. We'll get more into it, as there are various reasons, but I would personally still say a lot of the good humour that made the first two movies so fun is still here - it just happens to contain a few cringy things about it, and to begin with, we can look at the elephant in the room.

I mentioned his presence, feeling a bit awkward in my 'Naked Gun' review, but O.J. Simpson returns as Nordberg, playing the role just as silly, as at this point, Nordberg is well-known as the bumbling partner filled with awe at all things, almost as though the Police Squad hired a man-child. Things were going pretty well for the man, but while this film premiered on March 18, 1994, it cuts very close to the O.J. Simpson case, beginning the following June. With that, there was a significant overlap between the trial and this film's run on video rentals, with several of us watching O.J. on-screen and reflecting on how heavy it had all become with him.

On the brighter side of things, however, let's get into the overall basic plot of this one. I've mentioned how we're always here more for the gags than the plot, so in many ways, I feel that the more basic, the better for something like this. Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) is now retired from the Police Squad, allowing him to spend his time with his beloved wife, Jane (Priscilla Presley). However, Frank finds himself bored, and behind Jane's back, he jumps at an opportunity brought to him by his former Captain, Ed Hocken (George Kennedy), and Nordberg, involving a terrorist bomber named Rocco Dillon (Fred Ward).

Dillon, currently incarcerated, has been hired, along with his Mother (Kathleen Freeman), by terrorists to cause mayhem on a grand scale by bombing an American event that the whole world will have its eyes on. To discover the plans for the bombing, Frank goes undercover as a prisoner, befriends Rocco within the prison, and soon finds himself in much deeper than he intended, especially with the likes of Rocco's girlfriend, Tanya (the late Anna Nicole Smith), whom Frank remembers from a previous investigation.

So, basically, this one is just a matter of "stop the terrorist bombing before it happens," and the whole thing is punctuated by all of the good humour that makes these movies good. However, this one has the most offensive joke, done in true 'Ace Ventura' style (also released in 1994), representing a time it seemed to be okay to be transphobic. 1994 was an interesting year for comedy. Things needed to be edgier, but they often went over that edge, and where I used to laugh out loud, I now cringe, knowing what it'll mean to other people out there.

Aside from that particular gag and the O.J. case with its overlap, it's safe to say that most of the rest of it is silly, fun, good humour as per usual. The only real problem with it, in my eyes (aside from the trans gag, which no longer holds weight), is that it hasn't aged well due to these sorts of "big deal" things. It's weird watching and enjoying O.J.'s performance in all of these, but this one's timing has always been cut too close. I can still remember watching this on video with the people around me discussing O.J. and Nicole at the time.

After having said all that, I offer it as a fair warning. There are certain things that no longer fly, and that dates movies like this, plain and simple. I'm not out to "cancel" something that's simply a product of its time, because that's not my place. Filmmakers learn from these experiences, grow, and life goes on, thankfully providing us with a whole new 'Naked Gun' movie that I have nothing but praise for. If you decide to go through these original three, however, I say keep in mind that some things might not be "up to snuff," as it were.

3/5

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