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

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear is a 1991 slapstick comedy directed by David Zucker, and a sequel to the wildly popular The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988). Starring Leslie Nielsen as the lovably clueless Lieutenant Frank Drebin, this film continues the franchise’s tradition of absurd humor, visual gags, and rapid-fire wordplay.

Detailed Summary

Opening Scene: Presidential Chaos

The film opens with a parody of classic Washington, D.C. imagery—complete with a wild firefight breaking out in a White House conference room. Frank Drebin, as always, is somehow at the center of the chaos, crashing through security as he tries to prevent a terrorist attack (or possibly just causes one by accident). This exaggerated opener sets the tone for what’s to come: utter nonsense, and lots of it.

Plot Setup: The Kidnapping of Dr. Meinheimer

Frank, now a celebrated police detective with Police Squad, gets caught up in a new national conspiracy when a scientist, Dr. Albert S. Meinheimer (played by Richard Griffiths), is chosen to lead President Bush’s energy policy initiative. His radical plan is to move away from fossil fuels—bad news for the oil, coal, and nuclear energy moguls.

Before Meinheimer can present his findings, he is kidnapped and replaced with a lookalike who parrots the energy industry’s script. Naturally, Frank Drebin is assigned to protect Meinheimer and stumbles upon the plot.

The Return of Jane Spencer

Frank’s ex-girlfriend Jane Spencer (Priscilla Presley) returns as a top assistant to Dr. Meinheimer. Frank is still madly in love with her, though she’s involved with Quentin Hapsburg (Robert Goulet), a slick villain connected to the energy companies. Their awkward reunion gives the movie a thread of romantic comedy amid the slapstick chaos.

Drebin Investigates (Badly)

Frank begins to suspect something’s wrong with Meinheimer and goes on a trail of physical comedy and investigation disasters. He stumbles into a bar fight, interrogates a hypnotized witness in the most convoluted way possible, and causes mayhem at a high-society party—all without realizing he’s inching closer to the real plot.

The Truth Comes Out

Eventually, Drebin discovers that Hapsburg and his cronies have kidnapped the real Dr. Meinheimer and are planning to assassinate him at a public event. Frank, Jane, and the Police Squad team spring into action in a completely chaotic and ridiculous climax.

Movie Ending

The climax takes place at a scientific awards dinner where the fake Dr. Meinheimer is scheduled to speak. Frank, after a series of comic blunders (including accidentally tranquilizing a conductor and being mistaken for a motivational speaker), exposes the fake and rescues the real Dr. Meinheimer—though not without a gunfight, explosions, and several instances of mistaken identity.

Hapsburg is exposed as the villain and attempts to escape via rooftop helicopter, but Frank manages to thwart him in the most physically improbable way possible—by launching himself off the roof and crashing directly into the helicopter blades (miraculously surviving and stopping the villain). Jane and Frank share a romantic moment as the day is saved.

In true Naked Gun fashion, the final joke involves Frank accidentally pushing a wheelchair-bound character down the stairs to his death… and then receiving applause for it.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, there is no post-credits scene in The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear. The film wraps up all of its major gags and storylines before the credits roll, maintaining a traditional comedic ending without teasing future sequels.

Type of Movie

This is a slapstick comedy/parody, heavily relying on visual gags, wordplay, absurd humor, and direct spoofs of action and political thrillers. It pokes fun at cop dramas, government conspiracies, and romantic tropes all in one chaotic package.

Cast

• Leslie Nielsen as Lt. Frank Drebin
• Priscilla Presley as Jane Spencer
• George Kennedy as Capt. Ed Hocken
• O.J. Simpson as Officer Nordberg
• Richard Griffiths as Dr. Albert S. Meinheimer / Lookalike
• Robert Goulet as Quentin Hapsburg

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Ira Newborn, who also scored the first Naked Gun film. The soundtrack blends bombastic orchestral parodies of action-movie themes with goofy musical cues that underline the movie’s tone. Musical moments often enhance the comedic timing of scenes, such as overdramatic strings during mundane moments or jazz numbers in chaotic situations.

Filming Locations

The film was shot primarily in Los Angeles, California. Locations include:

• City Hall and other LA government buildings, standing in for Washington, D.C. landmarks.
• Several studio soundstages were used for interior scenes, including the energy conference and banquet halls.
  Though the movie is meant to take place in D.C., the over-the-top sets and exaggerated cityscapes are clearly stylized for comedic effect.

Awards and Nominations

While the film was a commercial success, it didn’t receive major awards. However, it was nominated for:

• American Comedy Awards: Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leslie Nielsen)

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Leslie Nielsen improvised many of his lines, contributing to the spontaneous tone of the film.
• The film’s original title was reportedly The Naked Gun 2: The Smell of Fear, but the “2½” was added as a joke about unnecessary sequels.
• Robert Goulet had previously been parodied in Airplane!—he embraced the absurdity of his villain role here.
• Director David Zucker encouraged physical improvisation, resulting in numerous outtakes and alternate takes of gag sequences.

Inspirations and References

• The film is based on the short-lived TV show Police Squad! (1982), also starring Leslie Nielsen.
• It satirizes political thrillers of the late ’80s and early ’90s, especially those dealing with corporate conspiracies and government corruption.
• The fake scientist swap is a nod to Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much, played for laughs.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no publicly released alternate endings, but deleted scenes include:

• A longer version of the bar fight scene with more absurd physical comedy.
• Additional dialogue between Jane and Hapsburg developing their relationship (mostly cut for pacing).
• Extended gags from the science conference that were trimmed down for the theatrical release.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Unlike some comedies of the time, The Naked Gun 2½ is not based on a book. However, the film does continue the tone and structure of Police Squad!, with several lines and scenes adapted from unused TV material.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Frank accidentally tranquilizing an entire dinner party.
• The romantic montage between Frank and Jane—complete with over-the-top beach frolicking.
• Frank interrogating a hypnotized man and getting hypnotized himself.
• The explosive finale with Frank crashing into the helicopter.

Iconic Quotes

• Frank Drebin: “Like a midget at a urinal, I was going to have to stay on my toes.”
• Frank Drebin: “The truth hurts. Maybe not as much as jumping on a bicycle with the seat missing, but it hurts.”
• Jane: “You were involved in that bombing, weren’t you?”
  Frank: “That’s not true! I took him out to lunch!”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• Frank’s police badge number is 713—often used by TV detectives in parody.
• One scene references the Mission: Impossible theme in the background while Frank sneaks around (badly).
• O.J. Simpson’s character is often injured in slapstick gags—his scenes became ironically notorious years later due to Simpson’s real-life controversies.

Trivia

• The “2½” joke inspired future parody sequels like Hot Shots! Part Deux.
• Leslie Nielsen was known for carrying around a fart machine on set to break the ice.
• The movie was a box office hit, earning over $86 million worldwide.
• Priscilla Presley was hesitant to return at first but was convinced after reading the new script.

Why Watch?

Because it’s comedy without brakes. The Naked Gun 2½ doesn’t try to make sense—it only tries to make you laugh, often by sheer force. It’s perfect if you love parody, visual gags, or watching a lovable idiot accidentally save the world. It also holds up surprisingly well due to the rapid-fire joke format. If one gag doesn’t work, the next one is already flying at you.

Director’s Other Movies

• Airplane! (1980)
• Top Secret! (1984)
• Ruthless People (1986)
• BASEketball (1998)
• Scary Movie 3 (2003)
• Scary Movie 4 (2006)

Recommended Films for Fans

• The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
• Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994)
• Airplane! (1980)
• Hot Shots! (1991)
• Top Secret! (1984)
• Loaded Weapon 1 (1993)
• Spy Hard (1996)
• Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)