NATIONAL LAMPOON'S LOADED WEAPON 1
A film review by James Berardinelli
Copyright 1993 James Berardinelli
Running Length: 1:23 Rated: PG-13 (Language, sex)
Starring: Emilio Estevez, Samuel L. Jackson, Jon Lovitz, William Shatner, Kathy Ireland Director: Gene Quintano Producers: Suzanne Todd and David Willis Screenplay: Don Holley and Gene Quintano Music: Robert Folk Released by New Line Cinema
Jack Colt (Emilio Estevez) is a burnt-out, alcoholic cop pining for his lost dog. Wes Luger (Samuel L. Jackson) is a straight-laced, by-the-book officer days away from retirement. When Luger's ex-partner is killed, the two are brought together to investigate. They soon discover that the murder is only the tip of the iceberg. The evil General Mortars (William Shatner) is hatching a plot to begin massive shipments of drugs via Wilderness Girl cookies.
As expected, LOADED WEAPON 1 is pure spoof. While its obvious target is the LETHAL WEAPON series (with Estevez playing a Riggs-type, Jackson playing a Murtaugh-type, and Lovitz doing a bad impression of Joe Pesci), it sets a few other recent films in its sites as well, including SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, BASIC INSTINCT, and WAYNE'S WORLD. There are cameos galore (by such notables as Whoopi Goldberg, Charlie Sheen, Bruce Willis, James Doohan, Dr. Joyce Brothers, and others), and a seemingly endless supply of puns and sight gags. Yet somehow the movie never quite clicks.
LOADED WEAPON 1 aspires to be a NAKED GUN, but Emilio Estevez has neither the screen presence nor the deadpan delivery of Leslie Nielsen. Also, with the recent release of so many other films of this sort, the luster is beginning to fade. They're not as clever or quirky as they once were.
LOADED WEAPON 1 has its funny moments. There isn't much subtlety in the humor--it's up front and obvious. There is a whole barrage of jokes--several per scene. Predictably, some work and others don't, and while the film isn't a credit-to-credit barrel of laughs, you would have to be made of stone not to at least chuckle once or twice.
The cast is mostly unremarkable. The most memorable performances are turned in by the various cameos. Bruce Willis' somewhat unexpected appearance is perhaps the shining moment of the movie, although James Doohan's brief scene is almost as good. Of the "regulars", William Shatner is especially disappointing Given his propensity for over-the-top acting, I expected a scenery-chewing romp. Instead, what he delivers is bland and of the "hand me the check so I can get out of here" variety. He's flat, boring, and completely wrong for the role.
Basically, the film is unremarkable. There's nothing new or original in it, so there isn't any compelling reason to see it. With much better fare of this sort available on video (AIRPLANE, THE NAKED GUN, etc.), renting a tape will be more satisfying, not to mention cost-effective. LOADED WEAPON 1 is good for a few laughs, but it's a rather feeble feature-length film.
Rating: 6.0 (C, **)
- James Berardinelli (blake7@cc.bellcore.com)
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