The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear

PG-13

1991

1h 25m

Comedy

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List

58%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

65%

Audience Score

100,000+ Ratings

Lt. Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) returns for more madcap high jinks in this police-procedural spoof. Powerful energy corporations are intent on putting a halt to the eco-friendly plans of Dr. Albert S. Meinheimer (Richard Griffiths), the new U.S. energy czar. They scheme to replace Meinheimer with an imposter who will do their bidding. Unfortunately for them, Drebin gets tangled up with their plans while trying to steal back his ex (Priscilla Presley) from her slimy new beau (Robert Goulet).

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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.

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Terrence Rafferty

New Yorker

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

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

A feeble sequel.

Jan 11, 2008

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Even if the laugh machine isn't operating at top efficiency, it still cranks out a few choice bits of irreverent lunacy.

Jan 11, 2008

Full Review

Andrew Sarris

Video Review

This very frothy farce is more pointedly political -- refreshingly so -- than almost any "serious" movie in recent memory.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 2, 2023

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

The first one wasn't good, the second is despicable. [Full review in Spanish]

Jan 5, 2023

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...the movie’s proliferation of appealing elements ensures that it remains quite engaging from beginning to end...

Rated: 3/4

Jul 10, 2022

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Bahad j

I am very happy that the movie shows us the steps and choices that are necessary in the life of a great person. I like the movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/15/24

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Aender S

Great sequel to a great comedy.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/16/24

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Audience Member

A lot of the charm from the first film but just doesn’t have the same amount of laughs for me.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/14/24

Full Review

Sedale S

A lot of the charm from the first film but just doesn’t have the same amount of laughs for me.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/14/24

Full Review

Stephen D

The critic score on this movie is another reminder why "Professional Movie Critic" is not a valid job.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/13/24

Full Review

Jeff M

The NAKED GUN movies are like finding a favorite brand of laundry detergent or a favorite recipe of fried chicken - there are lots of others out there, but this is just a bit better than all of the rest. Often MUCH better than all of the rest. That being said, this is definitely the weakest of the trilogy; but considering I am still giving it **** is proof positive what I think about these movies. This one is a bit more topical than the other two, particularly considering how often George and Barbara Bush are featured, so this installment feels less timeless than the other two. Although poor Barbara's mishaps at the hands of Drebin are among the funniest bits here - they bookmark the whole movie. My personal favorite scene is a dance number between Drebin and Jane that becomes increasingly more advanced until it looks like Derek and Julianne Hough by the end. Nielsen and Presley were born to play these parts, and their obvious good-natured playfulness is a big part of their success. 2 1/2 feels like it has a bit more adult humor in it than the others; and this one gets more laughs out of the sight gags than the verbal humor. I suppose these three films are to comedy what the GODFATHER trilogy is to drama. This one would be the GODFATHER III of the lost, but I still treasure it nonetheless. Nielsen will always and forever by my hero.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

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David Zucker

Director

Leslie Nielsen

Det. Lt. Frank Drebin

Priscilla Presley

Jane Spencer

George Kennedy

Det. Captain Ed Hocken

O.J. Simpson

Det. Nordberg

Robert Goulet

Quentin Hapsburg

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The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear: Official Clip - Boxing Knowledge

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The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear: Official Clip - Frank Has the Blues

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The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear: Official Clip - What A Drag

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The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear: Official Clip - Wheelchair Mayhem

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The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear: Official Clip - Frank the Tank

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The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear: Official Clip - Pulling the Plug

1:40

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear: Official Clip - Final Requests

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The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear: Official Clip - Interrogating Almost Dead Guys

0:53

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear: Official Clip - She Reminds Me of Mom

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The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear: Official Clip - What Are You Trying To Tell Me?

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Synopsis

Lt. Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) returns for more madcap high jinks in this police-procedural spoof. Powerful energy corporations are intent on putting a halt to the eco-friendly plans of Dr. Albert S. Meinheimer (Richard Griffiths), the new U.S. energy czar. They scheme to replace Meinheimer with an imposter who will do their bidding. Unfortunately for them, Drebin gets tangled up with their plans while trying to steal back his ex (Priscilla Presley) from her slimy new beau (Robert Goulet).

Director: David Zucker
Producer: Robert K. Weiss, John D. Schofield
Screenwriter: David Zucker, Pat Proft
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $84.3M
Runtime: 1h 25m
Sound Mix: Surround

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