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

It is remarkable how the plot of this 1991 comedy remains relevant even in 2025. The story centres on conventional energy industry leaders scheming to sabotage the adoption of renewable energy in the United States. Directed by David Zucker of Airplane (1980) fame, the film features Leslie Nielsen delivering another entertaining performance. Mangoidiots gives it a Raw.

This is the second film in the Naked Gun series. Right from the first scene, Lieutenant Frank Drebin of the Police Squad is invited by President George H W Bush to a special dinner. Being Frank, he manages to stir up trouble for the First Lady, derailing an elegant evening. Later, he reconnects with his former girlfriend Jane, who is now dating the head of a major oil corporation. Frank soon discovers that a scientist crucial to shaping America’s new energy policy is in danger, and how he manages to save the day forms the rest of the story.

Many of the scenes are laugh-out-loud hilarious, though a few felt predictable. The zoo sequence, in particular, was over the top for me. However, the climax turned out to be satisfactory.

In the end, despite certain moments that seem dated or exaggerated, I found the film enjoyable and relevant for its commentary on the tussle between renewable and traditional energy sources.