Review of From Beyond (1986) by Halfwelshman — 20 Jan 2012
The first film in the Naked Gun series, which spawned from prematurely axed TV series Police Squad! is a rapid-fire comedy festooned with slapstick, puns and surreal humour. It's one of the best products of the Zuker, Abrahams and Zucker partnership (falling only slightly short of the brilliant Airplane!) and certainly the best film David Zucker has directed solo.
Leslie Nielsen gives the performance of his career as Lt. Frank Drebin - his deadpan delivery and mastery of slapstick making him the perfect comedy anchor that holds the film together. Priscilla Presley and George Kennedy also impress as Frank's muse, Jane Spencer and exasperated police chief Capt.
Ed Hocken. The film has a huge variety of gags - whether you love slapstick, wordplay, visual jokes or parody you'll find plenty to make you chuckle. There are a couple of jokes that don't quite hit the mark, but they hardly matter as there's always something else to laugh at before you've even had time to stop smiling.
The film owes a lot to The Pink Panther in terms of comic style, and Frank Drebin is basically an updated Inspector Clouseau, but Leslie Nielsen is a fine comedian, just as Peter Sellers was, and he, along with Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker manage to make the Naked Gun films rival (if not exceed) those 60s and 70s comedy classics.
It's quite simply hilarious, extremely enjoyable, and just as silly (in a good way) as it ever was.
This review of From Beyond (1986) was written by Halfwelshman on 20 Jan 2012.
From Beyond has generally received positive reviews.
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